Riley leads on opening day at Memorial
Posted June 2, 2011 5:15 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
DUBLIN, Ohio — On the day Luke Donald debuted as the new world No. 1, players much farther down the rankings wound up atop the leaderboard in the Memorial.
Chris Riley, who has fallen to No. 280 as he tries to restore his game, relied on his old putter for a 7-under 66 at Muirfield Village on Thursday and had a one-shot lead over Josh Teater (No. 264) and Chris DiMarco, a three-time tour winner who is at No. 375.
Donald acquitted himself just fine. Despite a scratchy start, including a flubbed chip that led to double bogey on No. 18 as he made the turn, the Englishman ran off four straight birdies late in his round for a 70.
Steve Stricker and Rickie Fowler were among those at 68. Phil Mickelson failed to birdie any of the par 5s and shot 72.
Mike Weir of Bright’s Grove, Ont., shot 76, while North Vancouver, B.C., amateur Eugene Wong fired an 80.
