Griffin Leads Memorial Tournament – Morikawa & Homa Close Behind
- Dublin,Ohio—Fresh off his first PGA Tour victory,Ben Griffin carded a 7-under 65 at the Memorial Tournament on Thursday,despite finding the water twice.
- Griffin, who recently secured his first individual title, continued his momentum with an eagle on the par-5 seventh, sinking a 3-wood shot within 12 feet.
- Defending champion Scottie Scheffler posted a 70,marking his 19th consecutive tournament round under par to start.Despite not being at his best, Scheffler remained competitive.
Ben Griffin seizes the lead at the Memorial Tournament, firing a 7-under 65 in a stunning first-round performance. The PGA Tour’s latest victor showcased his skill with an eagle and multiple birdies, despite facing water hazards. Collin Morikawa and Max Homa are close behind, setting the stage for a compelling competition. Muirfield Village’s tough conditions, reminiscent of a U.S. Open, will test the world’s best golfers. Don’t miss how Griffin’s resilience and strategic play have put him in the spotlight, with defending champion Scottie Scheffler also in the mix. News Directory 3 has all the breaking details. Discover what’s next as the tournament unfolds!
Ben Griffin Leads Memorial Tournament After Strong Start
Updated May 29,2025
Dublin,Ohio—Fresh off his first PGA Tour victory,Ben Griffin carded a 7-under 65 at the Memorial Tournament on Thursday,despite finding the water twice. Griffin’s impressive round gives him a two-shot lead over Collin morikawa. Max Homa sits three strokes back.
Griffin, who recently secured his first individual title, continued his momentum with an eagle on the par-5 seventh, sinking a 3-wood shot within 12 feet. His ability to bounce back from mistakes proved crucial on a course known for its challenging conditions.
Defending champion Scottie Scheffler posted a 70,marking his 19th consecutive tournament round under par to start.Despite not being at his best, Scheffler remained competitive.
The course at Muirfield Village, softened by recent rain, allowed for low scores for those who found the fairway. However, the thick rough, likened to U.S. Open conditions, penalized errant shots.
“Yeah, a couple water balls — really need to go to the range and work on my game to clean that stuff up,” Griffin said.
Keegan Bradley echoed the sentiment about the course’s difficulty. “Basically a U.S. Open we’re playing,” Bradley said. “I’m going to be playing back-to-back U.S. Opens here. But the course is very fair, setup nice. Just a tough test.”
Griffin started strong with a 31 on the front nine before encountering water trouble on the 11th and 12th holes, resulting in bogeys. Though, he finished with three consecutive birdies on the 16th, 17th, and 18th holes, including a 50-foot chip-in on the final hole.
Shane lowry, who played alongside Griffin, shot a 69. He acknowledged Griffin’s exceptional play. “I told him when we finished, ‘keep it going, things will turn around for you pretty soon,'” Lowry said. “He pretty much holed everything he looked at today. It was good. We bounced off each other, we all played really nicely.”
Homa, currently ranked No. 87 in the world, is using the Memorial as preparation for U.S. Open qualifying. “I told my coach last night this is the best my swing has felt in a really long time.Then the whole game kind of felt like that,” Homa said.
Nick taylor recovered from a double bogey on the 12th with two late birdies to also card a 69.
Scheffler, despite a strong start to the season, spent time battling for pars after struggling with accuracy off the tee. “I felt like I scored pretty well. If I wont to keep doing that, I’ll have to be a little sharper the next few days,” Scheffler said.
What’s next
The second round of the Memorial Tournament promises more challenging golf as players navigate Muirfield Village and contend for the lead. The course will continue to test players’ precision and resilience.
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