But he has narrowly been beat several times by Jordan Spieth.
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That’s when he knew something was wrong. The just-turned-22-year-old won the U.S. Open and the Masters, and he would become the top-ranked golfer in the FedExCup standings with a victory in Akron.
Rickie Fowler, who finished Thursday at 3-under, hitting on No. 11 during the first round at the Bridgestone Invitational. “He offset two bogeys with as many birdies, but late par saves had to feel like net-birdies given he connected from 20’7″ and 19’2” at Nos. But there was not much emotion. That’s been his hallmark, and he relies on those parts of the game to carry him in the opening round. Spieth walked off the third green relieved that he cleared the water and made par.
“I was hitting it that good, and I was very happy with my result”, said Lee, who was born in South Korea but is a citizen of New Zealand where he spent his youth.
“Although I have had opportunities to win, I don’t feel disappointed with the way that I have played”, the 38-year-old added on Sky Sports 4. Very lucky break on 3.
“While I was a little off the pace at St. Andrews, winning the Scottish Open was still with me last week in going so close in the Quicken Loans”.
Spieth is on an unbelievable run.
Merritt made his first cut in nearly two months on Friday.
That left him one shot behind Danny Lee, who got his mistakes out of the way early and played a flawless front nine to lead the first round with a 65. I have been shooting low numbers every now and then, but have not compiled 72 good holes together.
“I think probably the hardest question was, ‘Do I still kind of want to grind and be out here?”
However, the Ryder Cup star needed nine shots just to complete one hole yesterday to cover the back nine in 38 and slump to three over par in pursuit of his first World Golf Championship title.
The possibility of a change in the WGC qualification process seems farfetched because it would take approval from the PGA, European, Asian, Japan, Australasia and Southern Africa tours.
McDowell has been in such a rut that he has fallen out of the top 50 for the first time in five years and hasn’t finished in the top 10 in America since playing this event a year ago.
Jim Furyk also had a 66 that was far less imperative. In 2001, he went seven playoff holes against Tiger Woods before Woods won with a birdie. Furyk opened with a 66 to join McDowell one shot out of the lead. A bogey-five on the eighth hole saw him sign for a one-over 71.
Welshman Jamie Donaldson teed off a crucial two weeks in the United States with an encouraging level par 72 in the first round of the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational in Akron.
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This is Graeme McDowell, carving his golf ball at will and walking with goal after it. Steely-eyed and focused on the course, but quickly cracking a smile once the final putt is holed.
