Memorial Tournament 2012: Tiger Woods and More Top Pros to Watch on Friday

The first round of the 2012 Memorial Golf Tournament is just about in the books in Ohio, and if Thursday was any indication, there should be no shortage of storylines as we head into the weekend—including a potential resurgence by the sport's most well-known player.

Tiger Gets His Groove Back

It's only one round of golf, but it was a good one.

And for the slumping Tiger Woods, that may be just the spark he needed.

Woods fired a 2-under-70 on Thursday and while that still puts the 36-year-old several shots off the lead, any round in the red has to be looked at as a victory of sorts for Woods right now.

According to Bob Harig of ESPN, Woods' last three tournaments are the first three-event stretch of his career in which Woods has failed to finish better than 40th place.

Woods is sitting a fair bit higher on the Memorial leaderboard after Thursday's first round, and while he realizes there's a ways to go, Woods told ESPN that he's glad to see some signs of improvement in his game:

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I haven't played the par-5s particularly well the last few tournaments and today was a good example: I played them great. The one on (No.) 11 should have been a birdie as well. I hit two really nice shots in there. I feel very pleased with the way I hit the golf ball all day, and it was nice to actually play the par-5s under par for a change.

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The powers-that-be in the PGA were undoubtedly glad to see improvement in Woods' game as well; although he hasn't been the same player since his personal life imploded, Woods remains the biggest draw in golf.

That draw doesn't really equate to television ratings unless Woods is in contention, so it's not just in Woods' best interest that he gets his game in order in advance of the U.S. Open in a couple of weeks.

McIlroy's Struggles Continue

If recent events are any indication, then the 2012 U.S. Open will not be won by the defending champion. Rory McIlroy has struggled mightily of late, missing the cut in consecutive events for the first time in his career.

Some have recently begun to question the 23-year-old's practice habits and personal life after his recent struggles—and it looked early Thursday like those questions may just get louder—as McIlroy staggered to a quadruple-bogey on his third hole of the day.

To the youngster's credit McIlroy got much of that ground back as the day went on, finishing his first round at one under 71. The day didn't get off to the start that he'd hoped, but McIlroy told Harig that he saw some signs of life from his game on Thursday:

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I hung in there well, and proud of myself for the way I just fought back. To finish the round under par I thought was a really good effort. I just tried to stay patient and not even think about the score, just think about what I'm working on in my swing and try and make good swings. That's really all I could do out there. I saw enough good ones, there was a little encouragement, and to string a few good holes together on the back nine was nice.

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The Irishman has been working with swing coach Michael Bannon in preparing to defend his Open title.

If Thursday's opening round was any indication, then McIlroy had better redouble those efforts.

After laying waste to the course at Congressional last year, you can rest assured that the USGA will make this year's layout at the Olympic Club in San Francisco an absolute torture chamber.

Mickelson Implodes

Maybe Phil Mickelson should have just stayed in California and tried to buy a baseball team or something, as all Mickelson got for taking the time to travel to Ohio was a fat lip.

If McIlroy's round could be called a "struggle," then Mickelson's was an unmitigated disaster, as the 41-year-old hitched and lurched his way to a 7-over-79 before withdrawing from the event according to a tweet by Jason Sobel of the Golf Channel.

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BREAKING: Citing "mental fatigue" after a 7-over 79, Phil Mickelson will withdraw after one round of the Memorial Tournament.

— Jason Sobel (@JasonSobelGC) May 31, 2012

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According to Sobel, Mickelson withdrew from the tournament after a horrific round in which he carded six consecutive fives for the first time since "I was probably five," stating that he's "trying to think big picture on what's the best way for me to get ready for the [U.S.] Open."

However, given his advancing age and declining health, it looks unlikely that he'll be in top form at the U.S. Open.

Some will undoubtedly wonder whether Thursday's disaster was more trend than aberration.

At some point soon, if Lefty's struggle continues, those same folks are going to start to wonder whether Mickleson's last major tournament win really was his last major tournament win.

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