Canada's Hadwin leads after opening round at Memorial

Adam Hadwin had too many birdies to complain about ending his round at the Memorial on a sour note Thursday. His 6-under 66 was enough to lead Masters champion Scottie Scheffler by one shot and give the Canadian hope he is turning the corner at the right time.

Hadwin was among the few who conquered a Muirfield Village course that was soft from rain but no less punishing. The Abbotsford, B.C., golfer birdied four of five holes toward the end of the first round — after four birdies on the front nine — until missing a 5-foot par putt on the tough 18th.

For Scheffler and PGA champion Xander Schauffele, it was more of the same.

Scheffler opened with two birdies in four holes — he missed birdie chances from six feet and eight feet on the other two — and was humming along until a big clump of mud slowed him on the par-5 fifth hole and led to bogey.

WATCH | Abbotsford, B.C., native Hadwin claims 1-stroke lead with 6-under 66:

Schauffele returned for the first time since winning his first major at the PGA Championship. His game felt scrappy from tee-to-green. His round was saved by his putter. Schauffele somehow managed a bogey-free 68 to get right in the mix.

Corey Conners of Listowel, Ont., was at 68 alongside Collin Morikawa and Ludvig Aberg. Defending champion Viktor Hovland was among those at 69.

Surrey, B.C., native Adam Svensson finished the day at 72, while Nick Taylor — who's also from Abbotsford — shot a 1-over 73. Taylor Pendrith of Richmond Hill, Ont., had a 74 and Mackenzie Hughes of Dundas, Ont., finished with a 78.

Hadwin and Conners are coming off the Canadian Open, and it's an important time of the year with only two weeks before the 60-man field for the Olympics is finalized. Each country gets two players (a