Casey makes flying start
England’s Paul Casey missed the chance to set a stiff clubhouse target for the rest of the field when the Memorial tournament began at Muirfield Village, Ohio, today.
After a hat-trick of birdies from the fourth Casey, in only his second appearance in America this year, turned in a three under par 33 and led an event featuring eight of the world’s top 10.
The Ryder Cup player added further birdies on the 13th and 15th, but in between came a double bogey six and when he could not save par after driving into rough on the last Casey had to be satisfied with a two under 70.
He did not finish as disappointed with things as Davis Love, however.
The former US PGA champion, with only one top 10 finish all season, reached five under with one to play, but drove into sand and three-putted the 444-yard 18th for a double bogey six.
Love still shared the clubhouse lead on 69 with playing partners Fred Couples and Craig Parry – the Australian bogeyed the last – but out on the course Masters champion Phil Mickelson was four under with six holes remaining and led by one.
Sergio Garcia came back from three-putting the first to be two under with six to go, while BMW Championship winner David Howell, clear leader of the European Order of Merit, was one under after eight.
Justin Rose, in the first group out, managed only a three-over 75.
