Dufner, Lingmerth share Memorial lead

Jason Dufner putted for birdie on every hole until the last one at the Memorial, a game so under control it looked as simple as breathing.

Even with a bogey on the final hole, Dufner had a seven-under 65 for his best score Thursday at Muirfield Village in Dublin, Ohio, giving him a tie for the lead with David Lingmerth. They were one shot ahead of Jordan Spieth, whose short game is starting to return with the U.S. Open around the corner.

Lingmerth, whose first PGA Tour victory came at the Memorial two years ago, also bogeyed his last hole on an ideal day for scoring.

Dufner opened with a 66-67 at the Memorial two years ago before fading on the weekend. Last year, he opened with a 68.

“I can put a couple of rounds together here,” Dufner said. “But I’m looking for more than that this week. Hopefully, we can keep it going for four.”

Dustin Johnson and Jason Day want to make sure they get to play four rounds.

Johnson three-putted after putting his tee shot into the water on the par-three 16th and made triple bogey. He three-putted from four feet on the sixth hole and made double bogey. And he didn’t make a single birdie in his round of 78.

It was the first time since the Bridgestone Invitational in 2013 that Johnson failed to make a birdie.

Day, who has yet to crack the top 25 at the club where he holds a membership, made bogeys on both par fives on the back nine and was headed for a big score until he birdied his last two holes for a 75.

Daniel Summerhays joined Spieth at 66; Justin Thomas and Lucas Glover were at 67.