By DOUG FERGUSON, AP
May 31, 2008
DUBLIN, Ohio - The first sign of hope at the Memorial came from the scoreboard, which showed Mathew Goggin coming back to the pack after a blazing start. The second sign came from a gray sky that promised relief from a brutal test of golf.
Goggin birdied four of the first five holes yesterday before strapping in for a wild ride of birdies and bogeys that ultimately added up to an even-par 72 that tied him for the lead with two-time champion Kenny Perry, who recovered from a rugged start for a 71.
They were at 7-under 137, one shot clear of Jerry Kelly.
All those scores seemed so much lower on a Muirfield Village course that felt like a major with its ankle-deep rough and greens as slick as glass.
Only three players broke 70 yesterday, with Johnson Wagner turning in a remarkable 67. Twenty players couldn't break 80.
Phil Mickelson chopped his way to a 75 and was 10 shots behind. Ernie Els waffled on his decision to come to Ohio, flying over at the last minute and leaving just as quickly. He shot a 43 on the front nine and shot 78 to miss the cut by one shot.
Sergio Garcia, coming off his victory in The Players Championship, was going along nicely until he chunked a shot out of the rough and into the water on the 14th, missed a 4-foot putt and took double bogey. That was the start of him playing the final five holes in 5 over for a 77.
