Indian-origin golfers Aaron Rai, Akshay Bhatia, and Sudarshan Yellamaraju all carded identical rounds of 1-over 73 on 5 June to share 33rd place after the opening round of the Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio. Fellow Indian-American Sahith Theegala sits tied 44th after a 2-over 74, leaving the entire Indian-origin contingent within striking distance as the PGA Tour Signature Event moves into its second day.

Leaderboard at the Top

Tommy Fleetwood, Wyndham Clark, J.J. Spaun, and Ryan Gerard share the early lead at 5-under 67. Fleetwood was the only member of the leading quartet to remain bogey-free, posting five birdies in a flawless round. Clark combined an eagle with five birdies, Spaun recorded seven birdies, and Gerard produced one of the day's most colourful scorecards — eight birdies and an eagle. Six-time major champion Rory McIlroy carded a 1-under 71 despite an early double bogey, finishing tied 13th, five shots off the pace.

Aaron Rai's Steady Return

Much of the focus among Indian golf followers was on Aaron Rai, the Englishman of Indian heritage making his first competitive start since his landmark victory at the PGA Championship. Rai birdied the 4th and 7th holes on the front nine but gave both shots back with successive bogeys on the 8th and 9th. A birdie at the 11th briefly moved him under par, before dropped strokes on the 12th and 17th left him at 73. It was a steady if unspectacular return to action for the reigning major champion.

Bhatia's Costly Closing Double

Akshay Bhatia, the Indian-American left-hander, endured a round of promise undone at the last. He picked up bogeys at the 4th and 8th to turn at 2-over, then responded with consecutive birdies at the 11th and 12th and another at the 14th to move into red figures. However, trouble off the tee at the closing hole resulted in a double bogey, pushing him back to 1-over 73 — tied alongside Rai and, notably, defending champion and World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler.

Yellamaraju Makes the Most of a Late Invitation

Indo-Canadian Sudarshan Yellamaraju was one of the pleasant surprises of the opening day. Having entered the field only after withdrawals, he made the most of his opportunity. Yellamaraju bogeyed two of his first three holes and reached the turn at 2-over, but birdies at the 11th and 12th on the back nine brought him back into contention. A lone bogey at the 15th capped his round at 73 — a creditable effort in elite company on a demanding layout.

Theegala's Drama-Filled 74

Sahith Theegala, a Hero-supported golfer with Indian roots, had the most eventful card of the four. His round featured an eagle and two birdies, but six bogeys proved too costly, leaving him at 2-over 74 and tied 44th. Despite the uneven start, the gap to the leaders remains bridgeable heading into Round 2. Defending champion Scheffler, bidding for a third consecutive Memorial title, also struggled to a 73 — three birdies offset by two bogeys and a double bogey — underlining just how demanding Jack Nicklaus's renowned design played on the day, with only 22 players breaking par across the entire field.