DUBLIN, Ohio -- Luke Donald felt like he was on his way to a typical round at the Memorial, where he had only shot in the 60s twice in his career. Everything changed in a big way with a run of birdies that gave him an 8-under 64.
Donald ran off six straight birdies and wound up taking only 20 putts at Muirfield Village to build a three-shot lead over Jim Furyk among the early starters in the first round.
Tiger Woods and Kenny Perry were among the late starters in cool, breezy and dry conditions.
"That doesn't happen very often," said Donald, who made eight birdies over the final 11 holes. "But when you get on that roll, it feels pretty good. So I just kept going and made some birdies."
Donald's best round at Muirfield Village had been a 68. He also had a 69 one year.
He opened with a bogey and was headed for another one at the par-4 second when he came up well short of the green. But he holed his chip shot for birdie and settled into pars until a 12-foot birdie from the fringe on the par-3 eighth.
"That kind of sparked off a run of six birdies," he said.
The streak ended on the 14th, even though he kept his momentum. Donald hit into the water off the tee, but still managed to save par with a one-putt green. He followed that with two more birdies, another nifty par save on No. 17.
Furyk started on No. 10 and finished with three birdies on the final four holes as he tries to join the impressive list of multiple champions at the Memorial, which includes tournament host Jack Nicklaus, Greg Norman, Woods and Perry.
Kevin Sutherland was in a group at 69, while Colonial winner Steve Stricker bogeyed his last two holes for a 70.
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