Jun. 6, 2009
By PGATOUR.COM staff
The first groups are ready to tee off in today's third round of the Memorial Tournament. Here's how it sets up:
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| Groups We're Watching |
11:42 a.m. ET No. 1 |
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Tiger Woods, K.J. Choi Woods must take advantage of an earlier tee time if he wants to be in the hunt on Sunday. The good news: The course is getting tougher.
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1:30 p.m. ET No. 1 |
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Mike Weir, Mark Wilson If Wilson keeps playing the way he's been playing, these two could end up playing each other this fall in the Presidents Cup at Harding Park.
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1:40 p.m. ET No. 1 |
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Jonathan Byrd, Jim Furyk Byrd might be the forgotten player here. The veteran has one bogey in 36 holes, and his putting has been flawless this week.
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EXPERT PREVIEW: PGA TOUR Network on-site correspondent Doug Bell looks ahead to Saturday's third round
By the time the leaders tee off on Saturday afternoon at Muirfield Village Golf Club, they better have their seat belts buckled tight. Sunny skies and windy conditions are expected for a third consecutive day, which will only enhance the speed of the greens. Most players agree they are the fastest this year on TOUR.
Jack Nicklaus Jr. told me they were 15 1/2 on the stimpmeter on Friday, and he was shaking his head at the thought of how slick they will be late Saturday. Tiger Woods felt they are faster than Augusta National's on the the flat putts. He went on to tell us on the PGA TOUR Network that they are also the truest and most consistent greens they play all year.
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| Saturday's forecast |
 Mostly Sunny Temp: 81 high/60 low Sunny and warm with light winds. |
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It's hard to believe that Jim Furyk hasn't won in nearly two years. He's certainly had plenty of chances, and this year, he's recorded five top-10s already. This week, he found something while working on the range that has helped him rediscover his great ball-striking ability. He has not had a three-putt in 149 holes, which bodes well for Saturday.
He'll be paired with Jonathan Byrd, who has to be excited about the third round, since his scoring average on Saturdays this year is almost two strokes better than his Friday average. He has recorded only one bogey and said that, going into Round 3, there is nothing he feels he needs to work on.
Mark Wilson is quietly putting together his best year on the PGA TOUR. The 34-year-old won earlier this year at the Mayakoba Classic in Riviera Maya. He has climbed from 121st to 97th in the Official World Golf Ranking, and his stats clearly tell a story. He is 47th in driving accuracy, 30th in scrambling, eighth in approach shots from 75-100 yards and first in putting from nine feet. All that sounds like a recipe for winning at Muirfield Village Golf Club.
Chris DiMarco hasn't won in seven long years. He is 40-years-old and told me that he finally feels 100 percent healthy after struggling for several years with various injuries and a surgery. As I watched him work on his putting, his unusual reverse claw grip looks especially solid on these slick surfaces, and he wraps it in from 5 feet with authority. He mentioned that he is hitting it better now than he has all year.
| Stat of the day |
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Should Weir go on to win, he would be the first left-handed player in the event's history to do so. He would also hold the distinction of being the only Canadian to win the event. |
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| The Film Room |
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PGA TOUR Today Win McMurry updates action from the second round of the 2009 Memorial Tournament and previews what to watch for in the third round. Watch it |
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Shot of the Day Camilo Villegas pars the brutal 444-yard par-4 18th by chipping in for par in the second round. Despite the shot, Villegas is tied for 42nd after two rounds. Watch it |
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Round 2 Highlights Jonathan Byrd and Jim Furyk share the 36-hole lead at Muirfield Village at 7 under. Both players are looking for their first win since 2007. Watch it |
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| Thus far at Muirfield Village Golf Club |
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