Memorial Lead Is All Perry’s

A grinder throughout his career, Kenny Perry is starting to make golf look awfully easy.

One week after winning the Colonial with a record score, Perry surged into the lead Friday at the Memorial with a four-under-par 68, capped by a birdie on the final hole.

Retief Goosen and Lee Janzen, a pair of U.S. Open champions, each had a 67 and were one stroke behind.

Tiger Woods, playing on the PGA Tour for the first time since the Masters, looked as though he might join the leaders when he hit a four-iron into the wind to a flag tucked behind a bunker, setting up a short eagle putt on No. 15.

It all came apart on the 18th, when he pulled his drive so badly that it hit a fan in the leg. He hit his approach over the green and his chip ran 20 feet past the hole. He made bogey for a 71, and was five strokes behind.

Vijay Singh, the 1998 winner at Memorial, had a 69 and was at eight-under 136, along with B.C. Open champion Spike McRoy (68).

Perry had the 36-hole lead last week at Colonial, then shot 61 in the third round and cruised to a six-stroke victory at 19 under.

From Associated Press