Australian duo, O'Hair share Memorial lead

DUBLIN, Ohio, June 1 (Reuters) Australians Rod Pampling and Nick O'Hern, and American Sean O'Hair shared a three-way tie at the top of the leaderboard after the opening round of the Memorial tournament.

O'Hair and Pampling had identical cards on the front nine, both players posting five birdies to join O'Hern on seven-under-par 65 in ideal scoring conditions at humid Muirfield Village yesterday.

They headed a group of five players including South African Ernie Els, by one stroke, while three-time champion Tiger Woods could not capitalise on a great start, shooting two-under 70, after being three under through six holes.

''I started hitting the ball well from the beginning of the day.

My speed control was really good (on the greens),'' O'Hair told reporters.

He is making his first appearance since battling Phil Mickelson down the stretch three weeks ago at the Players Championship, only to blow his chances with a quadruple bogey at the 71st hole.

Pampling, meanwhile, found his long lost putting touch to reel off nine birdies, including a 20-footer at the final hole.

''It's been holding me back most of the year'' the two-time PGA Tour winner told reporters.

''I just haven't been able to make putts, but I obviously made some nice ones today. I drove it exceptionally well early on, gave myself a lot of chances.'' O'Hern made his move late, picking up five birdies in a six-hole blitz starting at the par-5 11th.

''A round like this has been in the makings,'' he said. ''I've put in a lot of hard work and it's starting to pay off.'' Els enjoyed a good day on the greens, providing a welcome confidence boost after enduring a relatively lean recent spell that included a disappointing equal 24th finish at the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth, England on Sunday.

''It wasn't the perfect round, but I had a bunker shot that went in on 13 for birdie, and I chipped in for par on 17. I made a couple of mistakes here and there, but I felt comfortable,'' he told reporters.

He started putting cross-handed the final nine holes on Sunday, and has decided to stick with it this week.

''It was a tough decision to make, when you've putted the conventional way all your life and been a pretty good putter, to go the other way,'' he said.

World No. 2 Mickelson withdrew when he was 2-over after 11 holes due to a left wrist injury. He expressed hope, if not complete confidence, that he would be healthy in time for the June 14-17 US Open at Oakmont.

Masters champion Zach Johnson also withdrew when he found the discomfort of a sore throat too much after 15 holes. A triple bogey eight at his final hole, to leave him 3-over, may have helped to make up his mind.

Reuters AKD DB0944