DUBLIN — Weather seemed to be the main topic of conversation after Friday’s second round of the Memorial at Muirfield Village.
Sure the golfers were going on about the windy conditions that put a halt to the cavalcade of low scores seen during the first round, but equally dominating the discussion was the rainfall expected between the second and third rounds — and possibly early this morning at the start of the third round — and what it was going to do to the course’s fast greens and high scoring.
“I need some rough weather so I can start scoring lower,” joked Phil Mickelson after shooting a 3-over 75 in the second round. “If the rain comes in like they say it’s going to, then it will soften up the greens a bit and it’ll play a lot easier.”
“It’s unbelievable how greasy the greens are,” said Mike Weir, who shot 72 to remain 1 under. “Rain will give the greens a different look and we’ll be able to take it right at the pins. It should make it a lot easier to score.”
While most golfers seem to be welcoming the chance to slow the speedy greens, at least one was worried the rain might have the same effect on the fairways.
“I hope it doesn’t get too wet,” said Jerry Kelly, whose 72 kept him a stroke off the lead. “If the fairways stay somewhat dry I think some water will definitely take care of the greens.
“But it would be a shame to get too much water because we all like to see it play tough and fast and have the ball bouncing.”
Due to the potential inclement weather, today’s tee times have been changed to begin at 10:45 a.m., with the leaders teeing off at 12:45 p.m.. Golfers will go off two tees in groups of three.

The main course

The consensus among PGA Tour players is that the Memorial is one of the top tournaments to play  each season and Muirfield Village is one of the best golf clubs.
“When people ask me, ‘What’s your favorite course outside of the majors,’ I tell them, ‘Muirfield Village,’” said Kelly. “I actually think it’s fairly similar to Augusta. You’ve got tight-tucked pins. You’ve got to hit the ball one spot to have it end up in another. Very fast, undulating greens, tough bunker shots … it’s just a great test.”
But Kelly added that the course isn’t the only reason players enjoy coming to Columbus.
“This is the only place where I love just hanging out in the locker room,” he said. “I love standing in the buffet line and ordering different meals. Everything is taken care of for the players. In this place, we’re spoiled rotten.”

Mr. big shot

Kenny Perry made the shot of the day when he holed a tough chip for eagle on No. 15. The eagle gave him a scoring boost and provided some momentum for the last 12 holes.
“It was a shot where I had all the green,” said Perry, who shares the 36-hole lead with Mathew Goggin at 7 under. “If I would have missed it right into that bunker — you’re dead. You can’t get up and down from that right bunker.”
So Perry went for the left side of the pin and hoped to get the ball within 15 feet.
“It just came out perfect,” he said. “It landed on that green and it rolled and it just fell in. It was like one of those slow-motion deals.”

Chip-ins

Goggin is trying to win his first PGA Tour event in his first start at the Memorial, a feat that has never been accomplished. Only three other golfers have made the Memorial their first Tour win — Keith Fergus in 1981, Perry in 1991 and Tom Lehman in 1994.
• The par-3 eighth played as the most difficult hole in the second round. With an average score of 3.475, the hole only allowed nine birdies.
• The 17 players under par after 36 holes ties for the ninth-fewest during the Memorial’s 33-year history.
• While Rod Pampling’s 67 on Thursday was the only bogey-free round, no player managed the feat in the second round.
Contact Shaun Bennett at 329-7137 or sbennett@chroniclet.com.

 

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