DUBLIN, Ohio – What a difference a week can make for some extra thick grass, more wind and faster greens.
Everything that has happened in the week between the Workday Charity Open and the Memorial Tournament played in the same course. There were 16 players who finished more than 10 shots in part during the Workday Charity Open. There is currently only one player better than 10 in the final round of the Memorial.
But as Jon Rahm showed on Saturday, anything can happen in these difficult playing conditions. Here’s a look at several key stories heading to Sunday’s final round:
A new number 1?
What is significant about Rahm having a four-stroke lead over Ryan Palmer and Tony Finau?
Rahm will replace Rory McIlroy as the number 1 player in the world if he wins the tournament and McIlroy, currently 10 shots behind, tied for 12th place, ends worse than a tie for second. Only nine European players have been ranked as number 1 in the world.
“It is extremely important,” said Rahm, originally from Spain. “Obviously it is a big problem. I cannot sit here and not, and try to cut it down and avoid it, because I would be lying to myself because it is a big problem. But it is a consequence of my victory.” What is important to me [on Sunday] is hitting good shots, committing and getting the job done. Everything else will be taken care of later. “
Finau blew it?
If Finau, who entered the third round tied for the lead, does not return to win the tournament, he will know that his game in the back on Saturday began its downward spiral.
He stood at 10 below as he turned around in the third round. But two double bogeys and one bogey in the last nine could be the reason he doesn’t win.
“He ran into some speed bumps in the last nine,” said Finau. “Man, this golf course can make you beat in the blink of an eye. Just try to put your best foot forward on every hole, every shot, and try to play your best. The greens are firm. There is enough wind there to think they’re quick I’m a little bit disappointed with my ending but look I’m in a good position to go [Sunday’s final round]. And it will be difficult. I’m probably pretty lucky to be inside a few shots later [Saturday’s third round]”
How about tiger?
Tiger Woods recovered from a tough second round that had him on the verge of missing the cut to shoot 1 to 71 in the third round. Woods, whose back was bothering him as he warmed up on Friday, showed no signs of health problems and had a smile on his face for most of the round.
For Woods, spending four consecutive days in PGA Tour conditions is important, as it is anticipated ahead of next month’s PGA Championship.
“Obviously you can say that [the back is] affecting him a little bit more because his speed is very low, and when your speed is very low and you’re trying to compete against the best players in the world, I saw him hit a club and it was a 145 mph ball speed, “said Jason Day .
“When is the last time you have seen Tiger do that? And when you try to do that and compete against the best players in the world, it is very difficult to do it. In short, it is good to see him come out playing again. I hope his back appears so I can start hitting him a little bit harder and being a little bit more competitive in his mind, because I know he’s probably frustrated with that. “
Day in the mix despite back problems and all
Day is tied for fifth, seven shots behind Rahm through Sunday. But like Woods on Friday, Day is dealing with past problems. Day has had to strain this weekend to try to stay in contention in his home course. He is a member of Muirfield Village.
After a slow start in the first round, he shot 1-out-73 on Thursday, faced despite his awkward back.
“I’m just being cautious,” said Day. “I feel like I could go out at any time because he just doesn’t feel strong. But I just want to make sure that … I have to go through [the final round]. If I pass [Sunday] then I take a week off, then I’m fine. “
So Day knows how Woods feels.
“I like him almost every day,” Day said. “I can understand your pain.”
Challenging course
Are you sure the Memorial is not important? Players think he is playing as one given the conditions. Muirfield Village is playing hard and fast, a departure from just a week earlier when the Workday Charity Classic, on the same course, played smooth and scored low. This week, Dustin Johnson, who was ranked No. 4 in the world, shot 80 straight and missed the cut. On Saturday, no player on the field went through his round without at least one ghost or worse.
Players have noticed the difference.
“It is very difficult,” said Justin Thomas. “It is very fair. Reward the good shots and expose the bad ones. You need to control your ball and you simply cannot make any stupid mistakes. Last week you could fall short and get away with it. Yes, that is not the case this week. Some of these greens, especially No. 16, are absurd. It’s like hitting concrete. Really, you really have to be landing exactly where you want, otherwise you’re going to go to a bad place. “
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