In a stunning show of confidence and momentum, Ben Griffin has stormed into the spotlight at the Memorial Tournament, posting a scorching 7-under 65 in the opening round at Muirfield Village Golf Club. The North Carolina native, who just clinched his first PGA Tour victory at the Charles Schwab Challenge, didn’t skip a beat as he surged past an elite field packed with legends and world-class talent.

Griffin’s round was nothing short of spectacular. Despite two mishaps that landed his ball in the water, the 29-year-old kept his composure, delivering an eagle on the par-5 7th and finishing strong with three straight birdies. “I can’t remember the last time I birdied the last three holes of a tournament,” Griffin admitted. “It felt surreal—I’m still in a bit of a blackout.”

Trailing two strokes behind is two-time major winner Collin Morikawa, who turned in a clean 5-under 67 despite starting the day unsure of his swing. “I had to go back to some old swing thoughts,” said Morikawa, who’s no stranger to Muirfield Village success. Having won the Workday Charity Open here in 2020 and finishing runner-up in 2022 and 2024, the Californian remains one to watch as the tournament progresses.

Max Homa, with a powerful back-nine push, birdied the final two holes to lock in a 4-under 68 and secure third place heading into Round 2. Ireland’s Shane Lowry, Griffin’s playing partner, also showed form, posting a solid 3-under. The chemistry between the duo was evident as they fed off each other’s energy throughout the round. “He holed everything he looked at,” Lowry said with a smile. “It was one of those days where we just clicked.”

Meanwhile, World No. 1 and defending champion Scottie Scheffler ended his round at 2 under, placing him in the top 10 but still trailing the pace set by Griffin. Scheffler has finished in the top three at the Memorial for the past three years and remains a formidable threat as the weekend approaches.

Not every big name found their groove on Day 1. Justin Thomas and Justin Rose had rounds to forget, posting 80 and 78 respectively, while Rickie Fowler, who showed early promise, faded with a double bogey on the 16th.

This year’s edition is extra special as it marks the 50th anniversary of the Memorial Tournament, hosted by golf legend Jack Nicklaus. The par-72, 7,569-yard course continues to challenge even the best in the world, with the rough playing longer than ever and conditions ripe for surprises.

Despite Rory McIlroy’s absence, the field remains stacked with champions like Patrick Cantlay, Hideki Matsuyama, and Matt Kuchar, all vying for a piece of the $20 million purse and a handshake with the Golden Bear on Sunday.

With the U.S. Open looming, players are dialing in their games, but for now, all eyes are on Ben Griffin—the breakout star who’s proving that lightning can strike twice in just two weeks.