Scottie Scheffler’s quest for a third straight Memorial Tournament title got off to a frustrating start as he shot 73, six strokes behind the leaders after a difficult day battling strong winds and firm greens. Wyndham Clark, J.J. Spaun, Tommy Fleetwood and Ryan Gerard shared the lead at 5-under 67, with only 22 players finishing under par at Muirfield Village.
Scheffler looked set for a solid round until a bogey at the 14th and a double bogey at the 16th, where a well-struck 7-iron unexpectedly found the water. His visible frustration reflected the challenge of judging swirling winds, which affected many afternoon players. Despite a birdie chip-in on the 17th, Scheffler admitted he had little fun during the round.
Fleetwood produced a bogey-free 67 despite hitting only seven greens, while Gerard’s eventful round featured five consecutive back-nine birdies. Tough conditions challenged the entire field, with players like Rory McIlroy and Patrick Cantlay recovering from early setbacks. As winds eased late in the day, Scheffler took some comfort in knowing his score compared favorably with many others in the afternoon wave.