The pros moved to Dublin, Ohio for The Golden Bear’s tourney, The Memorial this weekend. And to read reports after Friday’s round, Tiger Woods was dead, if not in the water, in the rough. Most of us would kill to hit a 74 anywhere, let alone at Muirfield, where Nicklaus has maintained a personal interest in how the course plays. That 74 was Woods’ worst score in almost two years on the Tour, featuring misreads, poorly struck putts and missed greens, had the experts sticking a fork in El Tigre. Big mistake.
Woods followed up that 74 with a 68, and a closing round 65 to slide through the pack, which included a 4-way tie in mid-round on Sunday to WIN the Memorial, beating Jim Furyk, who faltered down the stretch, by one stroke.
Next stop, The St. Jude’s Classic in Memphis, which marks the return of Phil Mickelson, in preparation for the U.S. Open at Bethpage Black, the following week.