Rory McIlroy fought back superbly from a quadruple-bogey seven to post a solid first-round 71 at the Memorial.
After missing the cut in his two most recent events at Sawgrass and Wentworth, McIlroy seemed to be heading for more of the same at Muirfield Village when he left the 184-yard par-three 12th, his third hole of the day, with a seven on his scorecard.
McIlroy's tee shot at 12 flew over the green and into a tricky downhill lie in the back bunker. He totally mishit the chip and could only look on as his ball rolled over the green and into the lake.
He bogeyed the 17th as well, but crucially, picked up birdies at the 14th, 15th, third and ninth and also made a superb eagle at the par-five fifth to rescue his round and finish with a one-under-par total.
"It wasn't the start I wanted to get off to, especially after the last few weeks," McIlroy said of his 12th hole horrow show. "It was just like 'here we go again'. But I hung in there well and I'm proud of myself for the way I fought back.
"To finish the round under par was a really good effort, I thought," he added.
"My ball finished in the one spot it couldn't, on the downslope, and I'd no shot. I was trying to land it just out of the bunker in the rough and let it tumble down to the green, but I had such an awkward stance, it was hard to execute the shot.
"I flew it maybe a few yards too far and it went in the water at the far side.
"I tried to stay patient and not think about the score. Just think about what I'm working on and try and make a few good swings."
McIlroy's chip-in at the par-five fith for an eagle really got his round into more repsectable territory.
"That eagle was nice and it got me back to even par. That was the goal I'd set myself after nine holes," he said.
"I said to myself 'if I can get back to even par here, that'd be a good score'. To finish one better really is a bonus."
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