Ben Griffin Leads Memorial Tournament with Seven-Under 65 in Ohio

Ben Griffin, fresh off his first PGA Tour win at the Charles Schwab Challenge, took a commanding first-round lead at the Memorial Tournament with a seven-under 65 at Muirfield Village. His round featured an eagle on the seventh hole and birdies on four of the last five holes, putting him two shots ahead of Collin Morikawa, who carded a five-under 67. Max Homa and Ireland's Shane Lowry followed closely behind, while defending champion Scottie Scheffler, a three-time major winner, shot a two-under 70, five strokes off the lead. Griffin, who briefly quit golf in 2021, is enjoying a career-best season, currently ranked 24th in the world, and making a strong case for the U.S. Ryder Cup team. The tournament also saw Rory McIlroy skip the event for the first time since 2017, opting to focus on the Canadian Open and upcoming U.S. Open. Griffin expressed confidence and excitement about his current form, highlighting the toughness of the course and his aggressive play style.