Mathew Goggin made a dream start to the second round at the Memorial tournament yesterday but the rest of the day was more like a nightmare.
The Australian threatened to leave to go away from the field
with four birdies in the first five holes, but strong, gusty winds
and lack of course knowledge took their toll at demanding Muirfield
Village.
He eventually carded 72 to share the halfway lead with
American Kenny Perry (71) at seven-under-par 137, one stroke ahead
of American Jerry Kelly and two in front of England's Luke Donald.
"I didn't know what was going on to be honest but it just got
windier and windier and tougher and tougher," said Goggin, making
his first appearance in the event.
"Not having the experience on this course, I made a few
mental mistakes and left a couple of shots in bad positions or
misjudged the wind."
Goggin's round comprised seven birdies, five pars, five
bogeys and a double bogey at the par-three 12th, where he put a
six-iron into the pond guarding the green.
He was not dissatisfied with his performance.
"Having seven birdies and shooting even par, you're (usually)
disappointed but the way the round went, it's still pretty
satisfying," he said. "You're still around the lead, so that's all
you can ask for really."
Goggin, 33, has not won in seven seasons on the PGA Tour,
primarily because his putting has not matched the quality of his
long game.
However, he has been close to breaking through several times
this season and is trying to remain patient for that elusive maiden
victory.
Perry, playing in the extremely difficult afternoon
conditions, recovered from a dismal three bogeys in the first five
holes.
He stemmed the bleeding with an eagle at his sixth hole, the
par-five 15th, where he pitched in from 35 yards.
"I hit the shot of my life to keep the ship from sinking,"
said the two-time Memorial champion.
"That gave me some momentum, turned the round around and
lifted my spirits. I hung in there and played okay from then on.
"It was brutal out there, so I'm very mentally tired right
now. That was a very stressful round, trying to keep it together."
Only three players broke 70 on a day when the field averaged
75.9 strokes.
Phil Mickelson trailed by 10 strokes, while Masters champion
Trevor Immelman made the cut with nothing to spare, 13 shots off
the pace.