Third-round notebook: the Memorial Tournament

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Play was suspended at 1:39 p.m. due to a dangerous situation. Play resumed at 4:04 p.m. for a total delay of two hours and 25 minutes. Round three was completed at 8:09 PM.

The suspension of play at 1:39 p.m. on Saturday marked the 10th tournament on the 2008 PGA TOUR to experience a delay of play. Seven of the last nine Memorial Tournaments have been marred by suspensions. In the its 33-year history, there have been delays in 34 out of 131 rounds played.

MATHEW GOGGIN

Goggin has held a tournament lead a total of six times in his career, including all three this week at the Memorial Tournament. This is his first 54-hole lead.

While the tournament has never had a wire-to-wire winner, Goggin becomes only the fourth player in Memorial Tournament history to hold the lead first, second and third rounds, joining:

• 2005, Jeff Sluman, shot 72 on Sunday and finished tied for third
• 1989, Fuzzy Zoeller, shot 72 on Sunday and finished second
• 1982, Roger Maltbie, shot 74 on Sunday and finished tie for second

Goggin is making his first start at the Memorial Tournament. No player in the history of this event has won in his first start (other than Roger Maltbie, who won the first Memorial in 1976, of course).

Three players have made the Memorial Tournament their first PGA TOUR victory: Keith Fergus (1981); Kenny Perry (1991); and Tom Lehman (1994).

The third-round leader has gone on to win 15 times in the Memorial Tournament's history: Carl Pettersson (2006); Bart Bryant (2005); Ernie Els (2004); Kenny Perry (2003, 1991); Tiger Woods (2000, 1999); Fred Couples (1998); Tom Watson (1996, 1979); Greg Norman (1995); Tom Lehman (1994); Hal Sutton (1986); Jim Simons (1978); Roger Maltbie (1976).

The second-round leader has gone on to win 11 times in the Memorial Tournament's history: Carl Pettersson (2006); Kenny Perry (2003, 1991); Tiger Woods (2000, 1999); Fred Couples (1998); Tom Lehman (1994); Hale Irwin (1985); Keith Fergus (1981); Tom Watson (1979); Jim Simons (1978).

The only player in the Memorial Tournament's history to lead after the first round and go on to win the event was Ernie Els in 2004 (68-70-66-66=270).

MIKE WEIR

Mike Weir has made eight previous starts at the Memorial Tournament and has two top-five finishes. He finished fourth in 2000 edition, while in 2003 he posted a third-place finish after closing with a 7-under 65, sharing low round of the day honors with Tiger Woods.

If Weir manages to win on Sunday he will become the winningest Canadian in PGA TOUR history. Currently, Weir is tied with George Knudson, of Winnipeg, Manitoba, with eight PGA TOUR titles. Knudson won eight times between 1961 and 1972.

Weir, who posted a bogey-free round on Saturday, shared low third-round honors with his 4-under 68, moving him to a tie for second heading into the final round. Weir has one top-10 finish for the 2008 season. He finished fourth at the Mercedes-Benz Championship after holding the 36- and 54-hole leads.

Considering his history, Weir is in prime position to win the Memorial Tournament tomorrow. Seven of his eight career victories have come when he was trailing heading into the final round.

JUSTIN ROSE

In three career starts, Justin Rose's best finish at Muirfield Village Golf Club was fourth place in 2004 when he posted four consecutive under-par rounds. That year, he shared the 36-hole lead, and, after 54-holes, he was two strokes back of eventual Champion Ernie Els. He posted weekend rounds of 69-71 to finish fourth.

Rose is looking for his first top-10 finish of the 2008 PGA TOUR season. His best finish to date was a tie for 14th at the PODS Championship.

If Rose manages to break through on Sunday and win the Memorial tournament, he would become the first Englishman to win the Memorial Tournament. Rose would also be the youngest winner (at 27 years, 10 months, 1 day old on Sunday) since Tiger Woods won in 2001.

Rose is also trying to join the ever-growing list of PGA TOUR winners in their 20s in 2008. There have already been nine 20-something winners in 22 events this year, compared to seven in all 48 events in 2007. Matt Kuchar could also join this list -- he will be 29 years, 11 months and 11 days old on Sunday.

Nine times players in their 20s have won the Memorial Tournament: Roger Maltbie (24 in 1976); Jim Simons (28 in 1978); Tom Watson (29 in 1979); Keith Fergus (27 in 1981); Hal Sutton (28 in 1986); Tiger Woods (23 in 1999, 24 in 2000, 25 in 2001); Carl Pettersson (28 in 2006).

MATT KUCHAR

Matt Kuchar is looking for his second PGA TOUR title. His only victory came at the 2002 Honda Classic over six years ago. He won is first title in his 17th career professional start, and, this week, he is making his 143rd start since winning in 2002.

When Kuchar won the 2002 Honda Classic, he entered the final round three-strokes back of Mike Weir. He closed with a 6-under 66 at TPC Heron Bay to defeat Brad Faxon and Joey Sindelar by two strokes.

KENNY PERRY

Kenny Perry would be the oldest winner in Memorial Tournament history (47 years, 9 months, 21 days old on Sunday). Tom Watson currently holds that record at 46 years, 8 months, 28 days. Perry would also be the oldest winner on TOUR this year -- a mark currently held by Steve Lowery, who won the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am at 47 years, 3 months, 29 days.

The winner's check of $1,080,000 would make Perry the all-time earnings leader for the Memorial Tournament with $3,091,542.84, moving him past Tiger Woods by $328,394.84.

JERRY KELLY

Jerry Kelly's best finish in 11 previous starts at the Memorial Tournament is a tie for ninth in 2002.

This tie for second is Jerry Kelly's best position in the Memorial Tournament heading into the final round. His previous best position after 54 holes was 14th in 2002 (when he finished tied for ninth after a final-round 68).

Kelly is looking for his third PGA TOUR win. His two other victories -- Sony Open in Hawaii and Advil Western Open -- both came in 2002.

Kelly will be 41 years, 6 months and 9 days old on Sunday. A win would make him the fifth-oldest champion in Memorial Tournament history.

MISCELLANEOUS

J.B. Holmes has moved up the leaderboard each day to put himself in contention for the Memorial Tournament title. He shot 74 in round one and was tied for 60th. He shot 69 in round two to move toa tie for 17th. He shot 70 today and is tied for eighth. If Holmes should go on to win, he would tie the tournament record for highest start -- 74 (+2) -- by a winner. That record is held by Raymond Floyd, who went 74-69-67-71, to win in 1982.

The biggest come-from-behind win in Memorial Tournament history is five shots, which has happened three times:

• 2007 K.J. Choi was tied for seventh after 54 holes and shot a 65 on Sunday to win by one
• 2002 Jim Furyk was tied for 10th after 54 holes and shot a 65 on Sunday to win by two
• 1992 David Edwards was tied for sixth after 54 holes, shot a 67 on Sunday and won in a playoff

Mike Weir, Nick Watney and Stuart Appleby shared low third-round honors at 4-under-par 68. Wier moved to a tie for second, while both Watney and Appleby vaulted from tied for 47th to tied for 15th entering Sunday's final round, eight strokes back of the lead.

Bogey-free rounds - Thursday: Rod Pampling, 67 (-5); Friday: NONE; Saturday: Mike Weir (68), Nick Watney (68).

The par-4 10th hole played as the most difficult hole on Saturday with an average of 4.355, giving up only three birdies -- Ben Curtis, Nick Watney and Jim Furyk.