(Dublin) Canadian Adam Hadwin collected eight birdies in a round of 66 at the Memorial on Thursday, taking the lead by one stroke over Scottie Scheffler.
Hadwin played six shots under par.
The British Columbian had four birdies in five holes starting at the 13th.
On the 18th hole, Hadwin missed a five-foot putt that would have given him a par.
There is a four-way tie for third place.
PGA Championship winner Xander Schauffele, Ontario’s Corey Conners, Collin Morikawa and Ludvig Aberg all shot 68s.
Morikawa made an eagle on the second hole, sending the ball into the cup from 127 feet. He won the Workday Open on the same course in 2020.
Aberg is ranked sixth in the world.
One shot behind is the event’s reigning champion, Viktor Havland, in a deadlock with four other golfers.
Hadwin hasn’t finished in the top 40 since late March, slipping from 44th to 59th in the world.
He is trying to become the second Canadian to be invited to the Olympic tournament this summer.
British Columbian Nick Taylor has already earned his place in Paris, having won the Phoenix Open in February. He had to settle for a 73 on Thursday.
Only 25 players out of 73 did better than par, including Rory McIlroy, at 70.
He had to make four birdies in his last six holes, however.
Adam Svensson (72), Taylor Pendrith (74) and Mackenzie Hughes (78) are the other Canadians in the tournament.