Pampling, O’Hern share the lead
AUSTRALIAN golfers Rod Pampling and Nick O’Hern are part of a three-way tie for the lead after the opening round at the Memorial tournament at Muirfield Village. 
White hot … Pampling found form on the greens. Associated Press
Pampling found his long-lost putting touch while O’Hern stormed home with five birdies in six holes to join American Sean O’Hair at seven-under-par 65 in ideal if humid conditions at Muirfield Village.
They lead by one stroke from a group including yet another Australian,
Aaron Baddeley.
Adam Scott, Geoff Ogilvy and Stuart Appleby each carded a two-under 70, as did world No.1 Tiger Woods.
“I drove it exceptionally well early on and gave myself a lot of chances,” Pampling, who has been playing well without much reward, said.
“It was just a matter of the putter working. It’s been holding me back most of the year. I just haven’t been able to make putts, but obviously I made some nice ones today.”
Baddeley, meanwhile, showed no sign of jetlag after finishing equal second at an Asian Tour event in Korea on Sunday.
Baddeley, who tied for second at an Asian Tour event in Korea on Sunday, meanwhile showed no sign of jet-lag.
He drove the ball with unerring accuracy, finding 12 of 14 fairways, which allowed him to attack the pins with aggressive iron shots in the calm morning conditions.
“I drove the ball beautifully today,” the Victorian said if his round that included one eagle, six birdies and two bogeys.
“The shots I missed weren’t far off.
“It was encouraging to drive it that well and I felt I had good command of my irons, too.”
Baddeley’s driving has come a long way since the dark days of 2005, when he ranked near last for accuracy on the US Tour, finding barely half the fairways.
“I’ve been at both ends of the spectrum,” he said, crediting his massive improvement to hard work with new coaches Andy Plummer and Mike Bennett.
“I’ve been where you can’t find the planet, and now driving is nearly one of my strengths.
“It’s definitely so much easier from the fairway. Your shoes are cleaner, you hit the ball closer to the hole.”
Fellow Victorian Robert Allenby wasn’t quite as happy after finishing with a demoralising triple bogey for a one-under 71.
He was just 30 metres short of the hole in two shots, but he then pitched over the back of the green and took four more shots to hole out.
Stuart Appleby fared better with a 70, while Peter Lonard shot 72 and Nathan Green 73.
O’Hair, meanwhile, birdied eight of the first 13 holes en route to a seven-under 65 in his first start since his shocking finish at the Players Championship three weeks ago.
He was vying for victory with Phil Mickelson until he dunked two balls in the drink for a quadruple bogey at the penultimate hole.
AAP