Donald uses only 20 putts, grabs three-stroke lead at Memorial

Tiger Woods hardly missed a fairway, a big improvement. Luke Donald hardly missed a putt, and that was far more rewarding Thursday at the Memorial.

Donald set a tournament record by taking only 20 putts, which allowed him to tie a tournament record by opening with an 8-under 64 and a three-shot lead over a group that included Jim Furyk and Jason Day, who bogeyed his last two holes.

What seemed like a normal round at Muirfield Village in Dublin, Ohio, turned extraordinary for Donald when he rapped in a 12-foot birdie putt from the fringe on the par-3 eighth hole, starting a streak of six consecutive birdies. He one-putted nine straight holes until a routine par on the 18th hole to match the lowest opening round at the Memorial.

Woods went with a slightly higher loft in his driver (10 degrees) and continued to make strides with his swing. He didn't miss a fairway until his 3-wood on the 18th hole deflected off a tree and landed in a bunker. Woods finished with a 69, missing an 8-foot par putt on the final hole. His other bogey came on a three-putt at the 13th.

Furyk, who won the Memorial seven years ago, birdied three of his final four holes for a 67. He was joined by Day, Ted Purdy and Thomas Aiken.

Defending champion Kenny Perry had a 72.

LPGA Tour

Hall of Famer Se Ri Pak shot a bogey-free 6-under 66 for a share of the first-round lead with fellow South Korean Jee Young Lee in the LPGA State Farm Classic in Springfield, Ill.

A five-time major winner, the 31-year-old Pak is seeking her 25th LPGA Tour win and first since the 2007 Jamie Farr Classic.

Kris Tamulis opened with a 67, and Natalie Gulbis, Suzann Pettersen and Anja Monke shot 68s at Panther Creek.

-- The Associated Press