Langley partnered with Watson for final round
With an all-lefty final pairing set for today’s final round of the Memorial Tournament, it may surprise some as to which one has 40 straight bogey-free holes.
It is not Bubba Watson, the fifth-ranked player in the world whose 12under-par score leads at Muirfield Village. Rather it is Scott Langley, the world’s No. 200, who stands alone in second at 11 under. Even Langley is surprised by his start, having scheduled to play Monday in a U.S. Open qualifying event in Memphis, Tenn.
“I’m going to have to reschedule my flight,” said Langley, who won’t tee off until 1:45 p.m.
Langley, 25, said his putter was the key to his round, which included consecutive birdies at Nos. 10 and 11 and a 27-foot birdie putt at No. 15 that helped result in a 32 on the back nine.
Although making his first appearance at the Memorial, Langley is no stranger to Columbus courses or the high rough similar to that at Muirfield. Playing for Illinois, he made multiple trips to Ohio State’s Scarlet Course and a few more to Scioto Country Club.
“I look back to my college days when coach (Mike) Small really taught me how to learn a golf course quickly,” Langley said. “Coach wasn’t shy about growing the rough up pretty thick.”
Langley isn’t the only former Fighting Illini player on the PGA Tour who has experience with lush rough. Former teammate Luke Guthrie used his experience playing in the thick Midwest rough to shoot a 66 yesterday.
“I know how to chip out of the rough at this course because I’ve played it before,” Guthrie said. “I won a few tournaments in Columbus when I played in college, so this place has been kind to me.”
Although Guthrie remembered fondly his experience in Columbus, Langley didn’t enjoy the same success in central Ohio.
“To be quite honest, I’ve never really cracked an egg in Columbus,” Langley said. “Scarlet always beat my brains in, so this is a fresh change.”
Langley, who wore the Illini colors, has never been paired with Watson. He hopes his attire may help him out today.
“I’ve got some green pants picked out, and I’m hoping Bubba doesn’t see me,” he said.