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2019 Memorial Live Coverage: Highlights, updates from Tiger Woods’ first round at Muirfield Village

By GOLF Editors
May 30, 2019

Tiger Woods’ first start since his missed cut at the PGA Championship — and last start until the U.S. Open — begins on Thursday at Muirfield Village in Dublin, Ohio.

Woods has won the Memorial, Jack Nicklaus’ tournament, five times in his career and headlines a loaded field. Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose, Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas and Bryson DeChambeau are among the big names teeing it up.

Woods highlighted his latest comeback with an epic Masters victory in April, but he didn’t make another start until the PGA Championship at Bethpage Black two weeks ago. He shot 72-73 and missed the cut.

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“I feel a lot better,” Woods told reporters on Wednesday. “I just need to play a little bit more now. And hopefully it will be four solid days this week heading into the Open.”

Woods tees off early on Thursday, starting at 8:26 a.m. alongside Rose and the defending Memorial champion DeChambeau. You can follow Woods’ opening round with our live blog below.

Memorial Live Coverage: Thursday’s First Round (ET)

LEADERBOARD | ODDS TO WIN | TEE TIMES, GROUPINGS
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1:10 p.m. – And he makes it. Tiger closes with a par at 9 to finish with a two-under in his opening round at the Memorial. That’s exactly what he needed to stay in the tournament and set up the possibility to contend on the weekend. That’s all for us today, folks. Thanks for reading.

1:07 p.m. – That wasn’t pretty. Tiger makes an ugly putt from 22-feet, leaving his ball well above the hole. He’ll have a knee-knocker left to avoid a closing bogey.

1:01 p.m. – Tiger hits his approach on 9 to the back-left of the green and watches as it rolls back towards the hole. He’ll have 22-feet left to close out his round with another birdie.

12:57 p.m. – At the short par-4 9th, Tiger clubs down and hits a 240-yard shot into the fairway.

12:56 p.m. – Here’s a look at Tiger’s late charge:

12:54 p.m. – Woods sinks his short putt at 8 for his second-straight birdie and third in fourth holes. He’s now reached two under for the first time today, and, with one hole to go, sits in a tie for 12th, five shots back.

12:48 p.m. – At the par-3 8th, Tiger hits one of his best shots of the day, sticking a short iron to 4 1/2 feet.

12:46 p.m. – Jordan Spieth is on fire with his putter today, including on par saves:

12:44 p.m. – Tiger hits a decent bunker shot and then holes the remaining 6-footer for another birdie. He’s now birdied three of the four par-5s at Muirfield Village today. The 4 on 7 moves Woods back to one under.

12:40 p.m. – Tiger has 260 left for his second at 7, and he hits one on a good line, but it lands in the right greenside bunker in front of the flag.

12:30 p.m. – Next up is the final par-5 Tiger and his group will see in the first round, the 556-yard 7th. Tiger hits driver and smashes one into the fairway. He’ll have a good chance at reaching the green in two after that tee shot.

12:26 p.m. – Another disappointing hole for Tiger. He fails to sink his comebacker for par at 6 and once again falls back to even par on the day.

12:24 p.m. – Tiger lofts a soft chip with his third, but it’s not soft enough. It rolls well passed the hole leaving him with more work to do for his par.

12:20 p.m. – Tiger hits his approach just over the green at 6, but it settles down in some thick rough. He’s left with a slick, downhill putt toward a pond guarding the other side of the green.

12:13 p.m. – Tiger chooses driver on the 6th tee. He’s barking at it right after contact but it ends up in the first cut on the right side of the fairway. He should be fine from there.

12:11 p.m. – Tiger can’t convert his long eagle try, but he sneaks his birdie putt in to get his second birdie of the day. That moves Tiger back to one under, six behind co-leaders Spieth and Ryan Moore.

12:02 p.m. – Tiger takes an iron for his second at 5 and hits a nice draw onto the front-right part of the green. He’ll have an almost identical eagle putt to the one Spieth just made minutes ago.

11:57 a.m. – At the par-5 5th, Tiger hits a beautiful tee shot into the middle of the fairway with his 3-wood. He could really use a birdie or better on this hole.

11:53 a.m. – Tiger makes a great roll with his long birdie try at 4, but it comes up just short. That’ll be another par for Tiger, keeping him at even par.

11:52 a.m. – Elsewhere on the course, Jordan Spieth just drained an eagle to move to seven under through 14 holes.

11:48 a.m. – At the difficult 207-yard par-4 4th hole, Tiger hits a safe tee shot that holds on the putting surface. He’ll have over 30 feet left to get back to red numbers.

11:44 a.m. – Tiger misses a great chance for birdie as his putt rolls just past the cup. He knocks in his par putt to remain even through 12 holes today.

11:39 a.m. – Tiger’s approach shot finds the green and is in a great position for birdie. Appears to be about eight feet from the cup.

11:34 a.m. – Middle of the fairway with his tee shot again for Tiger.

11:33 a.m. – Another hole, another par for Tiger. He’s even through 11 holes as he heads to the par-4 third hole.

11:29 a.m. – Tiger’s short chip shot rolls past the green, setting himself up for another chance for par.

11:23 a.m. – Tiger’s approach shot rolls off the green here at the par-4 second hole.

11:19 a.m. – Tiger finds the fairway again, here at par-3 second hole.

11:13 a.m. – Tiger saves par and remains even through 10 holes. He’s off to the second hole.

11:10 a.m. – 71 yards from the hole, Tiger puts his approach shot on the green. About 10 feet away from the cup now.

11:08 a.m. – Tiger’s shot from the bunker hits the lip and he’s not happy about it. He’s now on the fairway, but definitely not the shot he wanted.

11:02 a.m. – Tiger’s tee shot at the par-4 first hole finds a beach to the right. Going to be playing out of the bunker here.

10:59 a.m. – Par for Tiger at 18. He’s even through his first nine holes as he makes the turn.

10:56 a.m. – Tiger’s birdie putt doesn’t break and runs past the hole. Another par opportunity coming up.

10:49 a.m. – Tiger’s approach shot from 180 yards out puts him on the green and in position for another birdie.

10:43 a.m. – Tiger’s tee shot finds the fairway again, now at the par-4 18th hole.

10:39 a.m. – Tiger’s lag putt from the short fringe cuts short of the hole. But he drops in another par putt to remain even through eight holes.

10:32 a.m. – From 178 yards out, Tiger puts his approach shot on the front fringe.

10:27 a.m. – Tiger hits the fairway with his drive at 17. Not an easy hole here.

10:22 a.m. – Another par for Tiger. Even through seven as he heads to the par-4 17th hole.

10:19 a.m. – Tiger runs his chip shot just past the green to set himself up for another par.

10:15 a.m. – Tiger sends his tee shot over the green and into the rough. He’ll have a tough chip shot from the thick stuff behind the green coming up.

10:10 a.m. – Another par for Tiger to remain even through six holes. He now heads to the par-3 16th hole.

10:07 a.m. – Tiger runs his birdie putt past the hole. Par putt coming.

10:05 a.m. – Tiger’s short chip shot, about 16 yards from the cup, gets him on the green and sets him up with a chance for birdie nine feet from the pin.

9:59 a.m. – About 260 yards out, Tiger goes for the green with his second shot but puts it a little deep.

9:55 a.m. – Tiger puts his tee shot down the left of the fairway on the par-5 15th hole.

9:47 a.m. – Par for Tiger. He remains even after five holes.

9:44 a.m. – Tiger knocks it close on 14. Will have an easy birdie putt. In the group ahead Rory has to go back to the tee after his drive is lost in the rough.

9:40 a.m. Bryson and Rose knock their approaches close on 14. Tiger spins his off the green but we’ll see how easy that chip is.

9:37 a.m. – Here’s a look at Spieth’s last approach.

9:35 a.m. – At the 366-yard par-4 14th Tiger hits an iron off the tee and finds the fairway.

9:33 a.m. – Biride for Jordan on 14 and he’s two under. Good start for him.

9:32 a.m. – Bogey for Tiger on 13 after he can’t get up and down from the bunker. He’s back to even through four holes.

9:29 a.m. – Spieth and Rory both stuff it close on 14 and will have easy birdie putts coming.

9:25 a.m. – Tiger misses the green from the fairway on 13. Into the right bunker but lots of room to work with. He won’t be happy with that one.

9:24 a.m. – Pars for Rory, Spieth and JT at 13. They head to the short par-4 14th.

9:22 a.m. – Ryan Moore is enjoying these soft conditions at the Memorial. He’s five under through seven holes and your current leader.

9:20 a.m. – Tiger finds the fairway on the 463-yard par-4 13th. So far so good after that missed fairway on 10.

9:18 a.m. – At the par-4 13th Rory and Thomas both have birdie putts while Spieth blasts out of the bunker and will have a shot putt to save par.

9:17 a.m. – Tiger cleans up his par and stays one under.

9:16 a.m. – Nice up-and-downs from Rose and Bryson. They both make par.

9:13 a.m. – Tiger misses to the right but will have just 2 or 3 feet for par. Should make it to stay at one under after three.

9:12 a.m. – Rose and Bryson both have about 10 feet for par after chipping on. Tiger’s birdie putt coming up next.

9:10 a.m. – Tiger finds the green on the par-3 12th. Safe shot. Will have about 20 feet for birdie. Rose and DeChambeau both miss well left into the rough and will be short-sided.

9:06 a.m. – Rory misses his birdie and pars 12. Spieth with a nice up-and-down and makes par as well, while Thomas can’t do the same. He makes bogey.

9:03 a.m. – And Tiger rolls that in and he’s one under after two holes. Bryson makes bogey and drops to one over. Par for Rose.

9 a.m. – Rory hits it close on the par-3 12th while Spieth and Thomas both miss the green. Spieth is short-sided.

8:59 a.m. – Woods pitches to inside 10 feet and has that for birdie.

8:57 a.m.– Tiger rips a 3-wood from the fairway that lands short of the green in the right rough.

8:54 a.m. – Lots of action on the 11th green. Spieth knocks his in from off the green for birdie to get to one under, while Rory makes a long putt to save par after hitting into the water. Yet Thomas, the only one in the group to hit the green in two, three-putts for par. He missed a shorty for birdie.

8:51 a.m. – In the group ahead, Thomas rips his second shot onto the green at 11 and will have a putt for eagle inside 20 feet. Rory’s second shot found the water short and right, and he drops and wedges on and will have about 15 feet for par. Spieth laid up and then spun a wedge off the green and will have an uphill chip for birdie.

8:49 a.m. – Rose takes less than driver and finds the fairway while DeChambeau hits driver and goes way right into the rough.

8:47 a.m. – Good shape on 11. Tiger rips it down the fairway and he can go at this green in two.

8:44 a.m. – Good save for Tiger. From 4 feet, 4 inches he rolls in his par. Bryson and Rose make their par putts too and we’re off to the par-5 11th.

8:40 a.m. – Nice shot from Tiger. From 49 yards he spins it back to about 5 feet and will have that for par.

8:38 a.m. – While Rose caught a break, Tiger did not. He’s in the thick stuff and can only hack it out. Grabs a 9-iron from 163 and he’s in the fairway and about 40 yards short of the green. DeChambeau, also in the rough, finds the front left of the green but has a long ways to the hole.

8:35 a.m. – Rose was actually in the bunker so he caught a good break and hits a great 8-iron to about 15 feet.

8:32 a.m. – Meanwhile a good start for the group ahead. Rory makes birdie on 10, and Spieth and Thomas both make pars.

8:30 a.m. – Tiger won’t be alone. Rose and DeChambeau all find the left rough, which looks pretty shaggy, off the 10th tee. Work to do on the opener for this group!

8:27 a.m. – Annnnnd we’re off! Not a great start for Tiger though. Finds the left rough on the par-4 465-yard 10th hole.

8 a.m. – This blog will begin at 8:26 a.m. when the featured group of Tiger Woods, Justin Rose and Bryson DeChambeau tees off at Muirfield Village. Rory McIlroy, Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth are the other morning featured group, teeing off at 8:15 a.m.