Ben Griffin Leads Memorial Tournament After Opening 65

Ben Griffin continued his excellent form by shooting a seven-under-par 65 to lead the first round of the Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Village Golf Club, extending his recent success following his first individual PGA Tour win at the Charles Schwab Challenge. Griffin's round featured an eagle on the par-five seventh and a strong finish with three consecutive birdies, giving him a two-shot lead over Collin Morikawa. Despite some setbacks with two water hazards resulting in bogeys, Griffin maintained composure and highlighted the course's challenging conditions, comparing it to a U.S. Open setup. Max Homa and Shane Lowry also showed strong performances, while defending champion Scottie Scheffler posted a solid but less impressive 70. Notably, only 13 players managed to break par amid tough scoring conditions, with several high-profile golfers struggling to make the cut. Griffin's rise is especially remarkable given his recent return to professional golf after a hiatus due to burnout and financial pressures, now ranking fifth in the FedEx Cup standings.