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Memorial Tournament 2017: 5 groups to watch in Rounds 1 & 2

By Luke Norris

Apr 5, 2016; Augusta, GA, USA; Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson prepare to tee-off on the 1st hole during a practice round for the 2016 Masters at Augusta National GC. Mandatory Credit: Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 5, 2016; Augusta, GA, USA; Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson prepare to tee-off on the 1st hole during a practice round for the 2016 Masters at Augusta National GC. Mandatory Credit: Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY Sports /
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May 19, 2017; Irving, TX, USA; Matt Kuchar reacts during the second round of the AT&T Byron Nelson golf tournament at TPC Four Seasons Resort – Las Colinas. Mandatory Credit: Ray Carlin-USA TODAY Sports /

5. Padraig Harrington, Matt Kuchar, Brian Stuard

1st Round: 10th tee, 12:54 p.m.

2nd Round: 1st tee, 8:04 a.m.

With all due respect to Padraig Harrington and Brian Stuard, the main focus of this group is Matt Kuchar, who continues to play consistently solid golf but just can’t seem to break through and get back in the winner’s circle. Kuchar’s last win came at the Fiji International on the PGA Tour of Australasia but it’s been more than three years since his last win on the PGA TOUR, which came at the RBC Heritage in 2014. However, he does have some history at the Memorial and that should help him this week. He won here in 2013, finished in a tie for 15th the following year, tied for 26th two years ago and tied for fourth a season ago so he knows his way around Muirfield Village and can hopefully put together four solid rounds to get in contention once again.

Three-time major champion Padraig Harrington is struggling a bit coming into the Memorial. After winning the Portugal Masters on the European Tour last year, he hasn’t finished higher than a tie for 31st in the eight tournaments he’s played since and has missed five of the last six cuts.

World No. 144 Brian Stuard also hasn’t been playing spectacular golf as of late. His best finish of 2017 was a tie for 16th at the Waste Management Phoenix Open but he hasn’t finished higher than 24th since then but that did come at the Dean & Deluca Invitational this past week so perhaps he can bring that momentum to Muirfield Village this week. Stuard finished tied for 69th here last season.

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