Adam Hadwin's game emerges at right time after "solid golf" round at the Memorial

07/06/2024 20:04

Adam Hadwin follows a tee shot during the second round of the 2024 Memorial Tournament. | Photo by Jorge Lemus/Getty Images

Hadwin maintained the lead after a strong round at The Memorial as the Canadian found his game headed in the right direction.

Adam Hadwin shot an even par round Friday at the Memorial Tournament. Muirfield Village challenged him, but the Canadian is sitting towards the top of the leaderboard at 6-under through 36 holes.

When he walked off the golf course, Hadwin held a one-shot lead—the same margin he began the day with—but Scottie Scheffler and the afternoon wave still have plenty of holes left.

Still, Hadwin's round was far from perfect. He recorded four birdies, two bogeys, and a double-bogey at 17, which dropped him from 8-under back to six. Overall, though, he felt that he had a strong round from tee to green.

"Very solid golf. I felt like I let a couple go maybe on 13, 14, but I hit 3-wood on to the green on 11 for a third shot," Hadwin said.

"So, solid speed control on the greens has been great. Just clean up a couple of those wedge shots, and other than that, it was a pretty good round."

This week, the wind is a big factor at Jack Nicklaus' elevated event. There have been gusts upwards of 15-20 miles per hour. However, Hadwin has gotten lucky with the elements.

"It was gusty, and it was flipping a little bit–enough to make you think. It's a tricky place to play. There are so many shots where you have to be spot on," Hadwin said.

Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images

"When you're playing, whether a 10-mile-an-hour gust or a 20-mile-an-hour gust, you pick and hope you pick at the right time. I've hit one shot where it didn't work out how we thought. So that's pretty darn good in 36 holes."

After his round on Thursday, he discussed the emotions of last week's RBC Canadian Open. Hadwin missed the cut but still felt confident in his game heading into this Signature Event.

"I felt like my game was trending in the right direction, even though the results hadn't shown it," Hadwin said.

"I think today was a continuation of that. I wasn't quite as sharp as I was, and around this place it will penalize you pretty quickly. I still think I'm in a very solid place right now, headed into the weekend, and I'll have a chance to win a golf tournament.

Savannah Leigh Richardson is a golf staff writer for SB Nation's Playing Through. For more golf coverage, be sure to follow us @_PlayingThrough on all major social platforms. You can also follow her on Twitter @SportsGirlSL and Instagram @savannah_leigh_sports.