The first round of the Memorial Tournament on Thursday at Muirfield Village picked up where last year left off as far as drama goes. After Jon Rahm had to withdraw at the end of the 2021 tournament with a positive COVID-19 test, another star left early on Thursday when Hideki Matsuyama was disqualified for a nonconforming 3-wood.
Matsuyama was not leading or among the leaders like Rahm was last year when he left the event, but Matsuyama's WD did provide a jolt in the afternoon of Round 1 that is always welcome at any tournament (even if the end result is not desirable). He leaves behind a really fun leaderboard with youngsters at the top and the horses in the back that should be fascinating to watch develop over the next few days.
Let's take a look at the logjam at the top of this board after Round 1 and try to figure out who's going to emerge when they turn the corner and head for the weekend on Friday evening in Round 2.
The leaders
T1. Mackenzie Hughes, Luke List, Cameron Smith, K.H. Lee, Davis Riley, Cameron Young (-5):Smith probably has the most staying power here, but let's focus on the rookies Young and Riley instead. Combined, they have top 15s in seven of their last eight starts and are probably the two most prominent candidates for PGA Tour Rookie of the Year. Though their games are built quite differently, they were both in the top six in this field in strokes gained from tee to green and both will probably be in the mix in some capacity from here until the end of the event.
This is a monstrous tournament to break through in to check off your first PGA Tour win as both are trying to do. It's the sixth-best event of 2022 in terms of strength of field, and either Riley (25) or Young (also 25) would fit nicely with the run of young 20-something Americans that have been rolling so far this season.
Other contenders
T7. Sahith Theegala, Wyndham Clark, Will Zalatoris, Denny McCarthy (-4)
T11. Corey Conners, Abraham Ancer, Jhonattan Vegas, Max Homa, Keegan Bradley, Joel Dahmen, Shane Lowry (-3)
T21. Rory McIlroy, Xander Schauffele, Jordan Spieth, Rickie Fowler, Daniel Berger, Adam Scott (-2)
The strength here is actually mostly at T11 and T21, players that are two and three strokes back respectively and very much in the mix with 54 holes to go. Zalatoris obviously stands out, and his game seems to be absolutely built for the very hardest courses (which you could argue Muirfield Village is among). McIlroy didn't putt at all, which is what you want to see when trying to project who will surge in the next few rounds. Schauffele has top 15s in each of his last four starts here. And Fowler -- who has struggled mightily with no top 20s in 11 starts this year -- put together a really well-rounded day in which he gained strokes in every category. The leaders are mostly stout, but this chase pack is definitely to be feared.
What exactly happened with Matsuyama?
I wrote the full recap here, but some of the quotes are just incredible. The rules official in charge of administering the disqualification gave an all-timer in his press conference afterward. One that could only happen in golf and that somehow simultaneously makes this sport both the most ridiculous and the most fun in the world.
"When I first got [his club], I took pictures, and I was looking at it myself closely," rules official Steve Rintoul said. "I actually closed my arm and rubbed my fingernail across. One way I could feel it, but the next way I couldn't. Even though it was done with a Wite-Out-like substance, it was thick enough you could pick up on where it was on the face."
"Applying a small, discrete dot with a Sharpie to help you with alignment is fine," he added. "We have players who do it all the time. But the amount of substance that was up on the face of the club, when we sent it to the USGA, their equipment standards guys, it was just excessive. And that's what could affect the performance of the ball."
Here's a look at the markings.
— Jonathan Wall (@jonathanrwall) June 2, 2022Hideki Matsuyama gets DQ’d for a marking on the face of his fairway wood.
The 📸 🐐 @gdm43pga managed to snap this one of Hideki’s at Muirfield. Gotta assume the white areas, which were likely meant to frame the face and center, caused the DQ. Wild stuff. pic.twitter.com/Ek4Oj1xeH9
(Video) Davis Riley Thursday Quotes Round 1 2022 The Memorial Tournament PGA Tour
Jordan Spieth ... can putt?
After losing strokes putting in 15 of his last 23 measured rounds, Spieth finished fifth in the field on Thursday with the flat stick. Don't let him get hot, people, it's going to be a problem!
"Had some misreads, just been looking for the hole to catch a few, and let it get going," Spieth said. "This morning might have been the best putting surface I've ever been on in my life, they were that good. So you knew there was no excuse, and then they were so quick that wherever you're going to start, it's just going to roll perfectly. So once the hole started, it got fun to be on greens. I was trying to hit greens in regulation at that point."
He actually didn't hit the ball as well as he has, but that's been so consistent this year that I don't think it's going anywhere. This was Spieth's best strokes-gained putting round since ... Round 1 of the Charles Schwab Challenge over a year ago. If the putter is actually heating up and this is not just a one-off, it's the perfect time for it with the U.S. Open and Open Championship both taking place over the next 50 days.
Jon Rahm's return
Forget the theatrical fireworks from last year for a moment and fixate your eyes on this outrageous stat. In the last two years, Rahm has nearly doubled the output from the second-best player at Muirfield Village. That's outrageous. And while he didn't have his best stuff on Thursday (he made a 7 on a par 5 on the back nine), Rahm still gained strokes on the field and is in position to gallop on Friday to pull close to the lead at a course he's been crushing.
— Phillip Allen (@PhilAllenTFG) June 2, 2022Strokes Gained: Total leaders at the Memorial Tournament over the last two years:
1. Jon Rahm - 38.74*
2. Patrick Cantlay - 21.84*7 rounds due to WD in 2021
Updated odds and picks
Here's a look at the new odds after 18 holes, via Caesars Sportsbook.
- Cameron Smith: 7-1
- Rory McIlroy: 10-1
- Cameron Young: 11-1
- Davis Riley: 12-1
- Will Zalatoris: 12-1
- Shane Lowry: 14-1
- Xander Schauffele: 18-1
- Jon Rahm: 22-1
- Jordan Spieth: 22-1
What a board! Young and Riley are getting a ton of respect from oddsmakers given how well they've both been playing for the last month. I like both of them here, but I like Riley slightly better because of how well he's hitting his irons. Lowry intrigues me at 14-1. His strokes gained numbers are off the charts (nobody in this field has been better statistically over their last 20 rounds). If you want to go a little further down the board, Homa at 28-1 is the play. He's eighth in this field in ball-striking over his last 20 rounds, has elevated his game to a new level this season and is just two back of the lead. That's much better value than, for example, Schauffele at 18-1.
Rick Gehman and Kyle Porter discuss Hideki Matsuyama's disqualification at the Memorial. Follow & listen to The First Cut onApple PodcastsandSpotify.
FAQs
Why did Matsuyama get DQ? ›
(CNN) Hideki Matsuyama was disqualified during the opening round of the Memorial Tournament on Thursday after illegal markings were found on one of his clubs.
Who are the leaders in the Memorial golf tournament? ›| POS | PLAYER | TOT |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | B.Horschel | -13 |
| 2 | A.Wise | -9 |
| T3 | P.Cantlay | -7 |
| T3 | J.Niemann | -7 |
Bryson DeChambeau missed the cut at the 2022 Memorial Tournament, his first event in eight weeks after recovering from surgery on a fractured hamate bone in his left wrist. His rounds of 76 and 77 left him 9-over par. The cut line was 3-over.
Who is playing in Memorial Tournament 2022? ›- Along with Cantlay and Rahm, Morikawa will be back once again, as will Cam Smith, Viktor Hovland, Rory McIlroy and Jordan Spieth. ...
- The winner will receive 550 points and a $2.16 million share of the $12 million purse. ...
- 10:25 a.m. -- Aaron Rai, Adam Schenk.
12 Hideki Matsuyama was disqualified from the Memorial Tournament midway through his first round Thursday afternoon after using an illegal marking on the face of his 3-wood. Matsuyama was 3-over after nine holes when tournament officials flagged the 3-wood. It was the first disqualification of his PGA Tour career.
Why was Matsuyama suspended? ›Hideki Matsuyama disqualified for use of non-conforming 3-wood during first round at Memorial. COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Hideki Matsuyama, the 2021 Masters champion, was disqualified from the first round of the Memorial on Thursday for having an illegal substance on the face of his 3-wood.
How much does the winner of the Memorial golf tournament make? ›The prize money payout for the winner at the Memorial was $2.16 million. Previously, Horschel's high came from winning the 2021 WGC-Dell Match Play in which he pulled in $1.82 million.
What does Liv mean golf? ›LIV Golf (/lɪv/) is a professional golf tour financed by the Public Investment Fund, the sovereign wealth fund of Saudi Arabia. The name "LIV" refers to the Roman numerals for 54, the score if every hole on a par-72 course were birdied and the number of holes to be played at LIV events.
What is the payout for the Memorial Tournament? ›As Memorial enters its final round on Sunday, players are 18 holes away from earning its $2.16 million top prize, from a $12 million purse.
What happened Collin Morikawa? ›Collin Morikawa missed consecutive cuts at the Scottish Open and British Open; the latter just his second missed major cut of his young career. ST. ANDREWS, Scotland — Defending British Open champion Collin Morikawa leaves the Old Course at St.
Did Morikawa make the cut today? ›
LPGA, PGA Tour Champions stage majors in France and Scotland
Misses cut at The Open Morikawa carded a two-day total of one-over par at The Open Championship to miss the cut by a single stroke.
The cut line at 36 holes is the top 65 players plus those tied at the end of that group.
Can the public play Muirfield Village? ›Muirfield Village is a very special golfing destination, one of the great championship courses in the world. Please note that Muirfield Village GC is a private club and only accessible to members and their guests.
Who is not playing in the Memorial Tournament 2022? ›2022 Memorial Tournament: Former champion Hideki Matsuyama disqualified for nonconforming club face. For the second consecutive year, one of the best players in the world has been forced out of the Memorial Tournament before completing all four rounds.
What is the Golden Bear Club at the Memorial Tournament? ›The Weekly Golden Bear Club badge provides the same access that a Patron Badge does, plus admission to the Memorial Tournament's Bear Club hospitality area. The Bear Club is a premium, air-conditioned sports bar venue located between the 10th and 14thholes of the Memorial Tournament course.
What is Matsuyama worth? ›...
Hideki Matsuyama Net Worth.
| Net Worth: | $35 Million |
|---|---|
| Place of Birth: | Matsuyama, Ehime, Japan |
| Gender: | Male |
Jason Kokrak had an unusual ending to his Travelers Championship on Friday. Kokrak was disqualified for, as Tour officials state, failing to record a score on his final hole and subsequently failing to return a scorecard. But that doesn't tell the entire story.
Who was disqualified from US Open 2022? ›Former finalist Alexander Zverev, Reilly Opelka withdraw from 2022 US Open. 2020 US Open finalist Alexander Zverev and top-ranked American Reilly Opelka will miss the 2022 US Open. Both players officially withdrew from the event on Monday, with the 25-year-old German still affected by a continuing ankle injury.
What does white out on a golf club do? ›The white stakes on a golf course indicate out-of-bounds.
Is Hideki Matsuyama married? ›Matsuyama's wife is Mei (married in January 2017) and his daughter is Kanna (born in July 2017).
What clubs does Matsuyama use? ›
- Driver: Titleist TS3.
- Fairway Wood: TaylorMade M5 (15 degrees), Nike Covert Tour 2.0 (19 degrees)
- Irons (4-PW): Titleist AP2.
- Wedges: Titleist Vokey SM7 54˚, 58˚
- Putter: Scotty Cameron Circa 62 #6.
A caddie on the PGA Tour receives a base salary — usually around $1,000 to $2,000 — to cover travel expenses. He will earn 5% of the winnings if his golfer finishes outside of the top 10 and 7% of the winnings for a top-10 finish. The caddie earns 10% of winnings when his golfer wins a tournament.
What golfer has the highest net worth? ›1. Tiger Woods. Tiger Woods is the richest golfer with an estimated net worth of $800 million. The legendary golfer was ranked first in the Forbes list of richest players for record 11 times which is a big feat.
How much do PGA caddies make? ›Caddies can range from $1,500-$3,000 a week. However, some caddies opt for a higher weekly paycheck in exchange for a lower percentage of winnings. "No caddie and player has the same deal," Collins said. "Everyone negotiates themselves."
How do you pronounce LIV in golf? ›How to Pronounce LIV GOLF - YouTube
Whats the meaning of LIV? ›A female given name. From Norwegian, Danish, and Swedish, from Old Norse "hlíf," meaning "defense, protection; byrnie, shield" Influenced by the modern Scandinavian word "liv" meaning "life."
How do you pronounce LIV? ›How To Pronounce LIV GOLF - YouTube
Why did Kevin resign from PGA? ›Na is believed to be the first player to resign from the PGA Tour because of the tour's position on players competing in the rival series. Na, a 19-year veteran of the PGA Tour, said he wanted the "freedom to play wherever I want and exercising my right as a free agent gives me that opportunity."
How much money did Will Zalatoris win today? ›Jude Championship purse payout: Will Zalatoris cashes in with $2.7 million. Will Zalatoris, competing in his first FedExCup Playoffs event, earned his first PGA Tour win at the FedEx St.
How much money did Billy Horschel win at the Memorial golf tournament? ›His lead was up to four shots, and it was a comfortable finish. Horschel finished at 13-under 275 and won $2.16 million, the largest paycheck of his career. As an elevated event, the win comes with a three-year PGA TOUR exemption.
How far does Collin Morikawa hit his driver? ›
Collin Morikawa Driving Distance PGA Tour
He has placed inside the top 100 in driving distance only once, that being his breakout season in 2020, when he ranked 97th. Across his first 3 seasons as a professional, Morikawa has an average driving distance of 296.6 yards.
> Phil Mickelson has played two events on the LIV Golf circuit since returning from his sabbatical in early June. He missed the cut at the U.S. Open at Brookline, and missed it again at St. Andrews after finishing 5 over.
How many times has Tiger missed the cut? ›“I don't know if I'll be physically able to play another British Open here at St. Andrews,” Tiger Woods said. The 46-year-old golf legend and three-time British Open champion missed the cut Friday.
Is Collin Morikawa going to Liv? ›Morikawa was the subject of rumors that he was considering leaving the PGA Tour for LIV Golf but he put them to bed in June. “I've said it since February at Riviera that I'm here to stay on the PGA Tour and nothing has changed,” he wrote at the time.
Who is favored to win the Masters? ›Jon Rahm, Justin Thomas, and Rory McIlroy lead the odds board at +1,100, followed by Cameron Smith and 2022 winner Scottie Scheffler at +1,200.
Is DeChambeau playing in the Memorial Tournament? ›DUBLIN, Ohio — Bryson DeChambeau is back, but he promptly missed the cut at the Memorial Tournament.
Did DeChambeau make the cut this weekend? ›Bryson DeChambeau misses the cut and his game remains a frustrating 'mystery' Bryson DeChambeau tees off on the 18th hole during the second round of the Memorial Tournament.
How many golfers make the cut at the Memorial Tournament? ›The 36-hole cut was made to the top 65 professionals and ties, and those 69 players have an opportunity to move up the leaderboard in the final round.
What does DQ in golf mean? ›If a player tees it up and commits a USGA Rules infraction during the course of play or unintentionally fails to sign a scorecard before leaving the scoring area it will be recorded as a Disqualification ( DQ ) and all official round scores will be submitted for the rankings.
What is Matsuyama worth? ›
...
Hideki Matsuyama Net Worth.
| Net Worth: | $35 Million |
|---|---|
| Place of Birth: | Matsuyama, Ehime, Japan |
| Gender: | Male |
Matsuyama's wife is Mei (married in January 2017) and his daughter is Kanna (born in July 2017).
Is cursing a penalty in golf? ›Players can be fined not just for profanity or club-throwing on the golf course but for getting caught smoking; for not treating spectators with respect; for not being nice to pro-am partners or for criticizing fellow pros.
Do PGA players get paid if they withdraw? ›“Any professional who is disqualified or withdraws for any reason from an official money tournament after making the cut shall be paid last-place, unofficial prize money as determined by the final cut the player made,” the regulations state.
What is Rule 1.3 B in golf? ›1.3Playing by the Rules. 1.3b(1)/1Disqualifying Players Who Know a Rule but Deliberately Agree to Ignore it. 1.3b(1)/2In Order to Agree to Ignore a Rule or Penalty, Players Must Be Aware the Rule Exists.
How much is Rickey Fowler worth? ›As of October 2022, Rickie Fowler's net worth is estimated to be $40 Million. What is this? Rickie Fowler is an American professional golfer who plays on the PGA Tour. He was the number one ranked amateur golfer in the world for 36 weeks in 2007 and 2008.
What is Rory's net worth? ›Rory McIlroy net worth
McIlroy is one of the richest golfers of all time if you add up his career earnings, sponsorships, and endorsements. As of July 2022, McIlroy has a net worth of $170 million, per Celebrity Net Worth.
| Net Worth: | $50 Million |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth: | Aug 18, 1993 (29 years old) |
| Place of Birth: | Brisbane, Queensland, Australia |
| Gender: | Male |
The only requirement was that green coats would be worn, and the first dinner had 11 attendees. Per tradition, the previous year's champion chooses the menu and pays for the dinner. Matsuyama won the 2021 Masters 10 years after he was low amateur in 2011.
How much does the winner of the Masters get? ›Scottie Scheffler won the iconic green jacket Sunday. He also won a big payday. Here's how much he and other players made: augustachronicle.com/story/sports/p… The winner gets $2.7 million this year, compared to $2.07 million last year which is almost 19 percent of the total prize money purse.
Does Matsuyama speak English? ›
The first Japanese man to win a major, Matsuyama had repeatedly expressed how nervous he was to be hosting the dinner and having to make a speech, particularly since he speaks little English and does most interviews with the help of a translator.
Does Tiger Woods use the same putter? ›Tiger's putter situation, after having changed a few times over the years usually goes back to the same model - a Scotty Cameron GSS Newport 2.
Who uses Srixon driver on tour? ›Some of those players who put their trust in Srixon equipment on the PGA TOUR include Brooks Koepka, Hideki Matsuyama, Shane Lowry, and many more. Srixon has a large presence on every major professional golf tour around the world including the PGA TOUR, Korn Ferry Tour, European Tour, Champions Tour, and the LPGA Tour.
What Srixon ball does Matsuyama use? ›Hideki Matsuyama uses Srixon's Z-Star XV golf ball.