Goggin’s perfect putting leads to 1-shot advantage

He had nine putts over his last nine holes en route to a 7-under round of 65.

DUBLIN, Ohio (AP) — Jack Nicklaus always envisioned the Memorial as a northern version of the Masters, from the superb course conditions to super slick greens, from caddies wearing white coveralls to grounds so immaculate that nary a cigarette butt is to be found.

He got his wish Thursday, at least with the greens.

Mathew Goggin spent as little time on them as possible, taking only nine putts over his final nine holes on his way to a 7-under 65 and a one-shot lead over Jerry Kelly and two-time Memorial champion Kenny Perry.

Goggin holed out a bunker shot for birdie on the par-3 fourth, then ended his round with a 12-footer for par from off the green, giving him only 22 putts for his round.

“Is that possible?” Goggin said when told he had nine putts on his back nine.

Strangely enough, he was 3 under playing his best golf, then hit some loose shots that produced four birdies over the final six holes.

“It was one of those bizarre days where I didn’t drop any shots coming in with the poorly played holes,” he said.

Perry found the right speed and ran off six straight birdies on his way to a 66, also taking 22 putts. Kelly birdied four of his last six holes. Ten other players also managed to break 70 on a day when the average score was 73.7.

Most everyone else hung on for dear life.

Shaun Micheel had a 55-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole that traveled 35 yards back into the fairway. Boo Weekley watched a wedge land near the hole at the par-5 11th, only to spin back to the front of the green, off the green and into the creek for a triple bogey.

“The greens are the best greens I’ve ever putted on anywhere in the world,” Robert Allenby said after a 69. “You can take Royal Melbourne, you take Augusta ... these are the best.”