Cut is set at Memorial
A shot of the 18th hole and clubhouse of the Muirfield Village Golf Club. Photo by Ken Tishenkel/Columbus Wired.
It’s time to pack up and go home for 48 of the 120 golfers who failed to shoot better than three-over par for the first two rounds at the 47th annual Memorial Tournament presented by Workday.
Technically, 50 guys are on the moving list but one is Chad Ramey, who withdrew after Thursday’s round, and the other name on the list is the 2014 tournament champion Hideki Matsuyama, who was disqualified at the 10th hole when it was deemed he was using an illegal club. It is the first time the current No. 5 in the FedEx Cup standings has ever been disqualified from an event.
The list also includes three reigning tourney champs in William McGirt (2016), Jason Dufner (2017) and Bryson DeChambeau (2018).
DeChambeau may not come as a surprise seeing as how this was his first event back since the Masters in April and hand surgery in early May.
He said after Thursday’s round his hand wasn’t an issue but he still felt off.
“As the day went on, there were some mis-hits and shots that just didn’t feel right. With my golf swing, (the) hand felt great. No issues with that,” he said. “But it just didn’t feel like the old me of 2018 like I used to.”
He finished at nine-over after shooting a 76 on Thursday and a 77 on Friday.
Dufner came in at six-over with a 73 and a 77. He was unavailable for comment.
However, McGirt was somewhat eyebrow raising after shooting a three-under, 69, and was tied-for 11th after the first round. He went six-over on Friday with a 78, which put him at three-over, just outside the cut.
Another notable cut is Collin Morikawa, who went four-over after a 71 and 77. Last year’s Memorial runner-up and current No. 4 in the Official World Golf Rankings shot three bogeys and two double bogeys for his second round. Both doubles came on par 3’s (Nos. 8 and 12) with one of his bogeys coming on par-3, No. 4. This was only the second cut he’s missed this season after The PLAYERS Championship in March and was the first time missing it in the Memorial in his third appearance.
The remaining 70 is still stacked, though, with Cameron Smith sitting atop the leaderboard at eight-under. The world’s No. 3 is only one of three guys who have yet to shoot over a 70 for either round after a 69 and 67. This is Smith’s seventh Memorial and has missed the cut four times including last year after going three-over.
The “other” Cameron (Young) is still in the hunt tied-for fourth at six-under after shooting a 67 on Thursday and 71 on Friday. This is the third-year pro’s first Memorial and is looking for his first career Tour win. He is currently ranked No. 12 in the FedEx Cup standings.
Rory McIlroy is still standing, tied-for ninth at five-under (70, 69). This is the world No. 8’s 11th tournament appearance with four top-10 finishes. His best was tied-for fourth in 2016 at 13-under.
Two-time tournament winner Patrick Cantlay currently sits tied-for 17th at three-under (72, 69). The world’s No. 6 is looking to become only the third player in Memorial history to have at least three wins on Jack’s course. Only Tiger Woods (5) and Kenny Perry (3) have accomplished the feat.
The world’s No. 2, Jon Rahm, is tied-for 24th at two-under (72, 70). The 2020 champ is making his fourth appearance with one missed cut (2017) and one DQ, which came last year when he tested positive for COVID after Saturday’s round. He was leading the field at that point by eight strokes.
Other notable names in the field
Shane Lowry (-3, 69, 72)
Will Zalatoris (-3, 68, 73)
Xander Schauffele (-1, 70, 73)
Max Homa (-1, 69, 74)
Viktor Hovland (E, 71, 73)
Jordan Spieth (E, 70, 74)
Rickie Fowler (E, 70, 74)
A complete list of Saturday’s pairings and tee times can be seen here.