Branden Grace was the leading South African through 18 at the Memorial Tournament held at Muirfield Village.
Fresh from a top five at the BMW PGA last week at Wentworth, Grace was three under through seven thanks to a birdie on the 3rd and gains at both of the front nine’s par fives.
The momentum did not translate into the back nine as the one-time PGA Tour winner came home with nine straight pars to finish four back of overnight leaders Abraham Anger and Joaquin Niemann.
Grace will be looking to refine his work off the tee with less than 60% of fairways hit in regulation on Thursday as he was rescued with some solid iron play as he upped his percentage to nearly 80%.
Louis Oosthuizen was one behind his countryman after birdies at the 15th and 16th got him to -2 for the day after going out level. Oosthuizen’s numbers from the tee and into the greens mirrored Grace, who will also need to up his accuracy as Muirfield can really punish wayward shots.
Rory Sabbatini was forced to settle for a 73 after coming into the clubhouse with an inward nine of +3.
Ernie Els signed for a 75 with Charl Schwartzel two strokes off that mark.
