Adam Hadwin had too many birdies to complain about finishing his round at the Memorial on a less-than-ideal note Thursday. His impressive 6-under 66 was enough to edge ahead of Masters champion Scottie Scheffler by one shot, giving the Canadian golfer renewed hope that he is hitting his stride at the right moment.
Few managed to master the Muirfield Village Golf Club course, which, despite being softened by rain, remained formidable. Hadwin birdied four of the last five holes—after already notching four birdies on the front nine—only to falter with a missed 5-foot par putt on the challenging 18th. For Scheffler and PGA champion Xander Schauffele, it was a similar story of highs and lows.
Scheffler began strong with two birdies in four holes, narrowly missing further birdie opportunities from 6 and 8 feet. His momentum was disrupted by a clump of mud on the par-5 fifth hole, resulting in a bogey. Schauffele, returning for the first time since his PGA Championship victory, struggled with his tee-to-green game but was saved by his putter, managing a bogey-free 68 to stay in contention.
“I'm going to go to the range and hit the center of the clubface a little more, find some more fairways and greens,” Schauffele said. “I'm happy. I'm happy with how I stuck in there and really happy my short game bailed me out on a day that could have been a lot worse.”
Joining Schauffele at 68 were Corey Conners, Collin Morikawa, and Ludvig Åberg, with defending champion Viktor Hovland close behind at 69.
Hadwin and Conners are fresh off the RBC Canadian Open, facing a critical period with the Olympic field soon to be finalized. Each country is allowed two players, four if they rank in the top 15. Hadwin's recent performance has seen his world ranking slip from No. 44 to No. 59, while Conners sits at No. 45.
Hadwin acknowledged the stakes, saying,
“Over the last month I've probably played my way ... not out of the conversation, but certainly out of a good position to be in. So coming into this week, I know the questions are always going to be there, but I think for me in particular, it was very important this week to get into the process.”
Scheffler, a four-time winner this year including another Masters title, seemed unflappable despite challenges. After a perfect drive on the 535-yard fifth hole, a mud-clumped ball forced a difficult decision. He aimed for the green but ended up 60 yards off target, leading to a bogey. The rest of his round remained solid, finishing with a precise approach on the 18th, the toughest hole of the round.
Schauffele, despite a scrappy game, avoided bogeys thanks to his putting. His biggest scare came on the fifth, where a mud ball landed him in a bunker. A precarious shot over another bunker to a tight pin and wet sand conditions left him hoping for the best.
“When the ball was in the air, I closed my eyes,” he said. “I wouldn't call myself religious, but I was hoping that thing was going to be OK.”
Fortunately, he stayed clear of the water and made an 8-foot putt to save par.
The day saw only 25 of the 73-man field break par, including Rory McIlroy, who posted a 70, bolstered by four birdies in his last six holes.
Hadwin's performance has reignited his prospects at a pivotal time, while Scheffler and Schauffele's resilience has kept them in the hunt, setting the stage for a thrilling continuation of the Memorial tournament.
