Adam Hadwin sets the pace in Workday Charity Open

Five birdies in his last eight holes, helped Adam Hadwin take the clubhouse lead midway through the first round at the Muirfield Village Golf Club

282
Adam Hadwin of Canada plays a shot during the first round of the Workday Charity Open on July 09, 2020 at Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)

09 July 2020: Riding a smooth flourish, Adam Hadwin took the clubhouse honours in the morning session of the Workday Charity Open. He made five birdies in his last eight holes for a 6-under 66. Collin Morikawa was six-under through 13 holes and a constant threat to take over the front end of the leaderboard, as we post this report.

Hideki Matsuyama was also retired into the comforts of the clubhouse with a 67 to his name. The Japanese was even with Nick Taylor and Zach Johnson, all of them done with their work for the day.

Hadwin started his day with a bogey on the 10th, after taking two putts from about seven feet on slow greens of the Muirfield Village course. He made the turn in 35 strokes, cushioned by birdies at the 14th and 18th holes. The Canadian needed just 31 strokes to race through the second nine for a solid opening round 66. He made a brilliant birdie on the 7th hole from nearly 23 feet before adding another long birdie at the ninth, covering about 20 feet from the cup.

Matsuyama got out to a hot start, making four birdies on the forward nine. After adding another birdie at the par-5 eleventh hole, Matsuyama went out of bounds at the par-4 13th hole to endure a double bogey. But he recovered the losses with a sensational eagle at the par-5 15th, making a 31 footer to address the damage on his card.

Justin Thomas, Pat Perez, Louis Oosthuizen and Tim Wilkinson also enjoyed an early finish, posting a 68. Si Woo Kim started his week with a 71.

Jon Rahm threatened to bring the roof down with a string of birdies before losing his wheels midway through the round. He made three straight birdies from the 14th. But a bogey at the 17th stalled his momentum as he made the turn in 34 strokes. Two more bogeys and a double at the par-4 sixth hole set him back even further, but a birdie at the 9th helped him keep his head above water on a 72.