Dustin Johnson sets early pace at Memorial Tournament with 10 birdies

Dustin Johnson upstaged Jordan Spieth and Jason Day on Thursday in the first round of the Memorial Tournament where the 2015 US Open runner-up shot a first round eight-under 64.

The hard-hitting American rolled in 10 birdies for a one-stroke lead over Brendan Steele who is alone in second with a 65.

World number one Day shot a six-under 66 with an eagle, six birdies and two bogeys while two-time major winner Spieth shot a two-under 70 with five birdies.

Spieth was in a group with world number three Rory McIlroy and Justin Thomas.

Johnson tallied a pair of twos on his scorecard. He had one stretch of four straight birdies beginning at number 12 and two with three consecutive birdies.

His two bogeys came after he failed to get up and down from beside the green.

“I felt like I played well right out of the gates,” he said. “I hit it close on the first three holes and made all of them, so that’s always a good way to start your day.”