His six-under 66 was enough to pip Masters champion Scottie Scheffler by one shot and give the Canadian hope he is turning the corner at the right time as he bids for a place in his nation’s Olympic team.

Hadwin was among the few who conquered a Muirfield Village course that was soft from rain but no less punishing.

He birdied four of five holes towards the end of the first round on Thursday – after four birdies on the front nine – before missing a five-foot par putt on the tough 18th.

Xander Schauffele returned for the first time since winning his first major at the PGA Championship in mid-May.

His game felt scrappy from tee-to-green, with his round saved by his putter.

Schauffele somehow managed a bogey-free 68 to get right in the mix.

“I’m going to go to the range and hit the centre of the club-face a little more, find some more fairways and greens,” he said.

“I’m happy. I’m happy with how I stuck in there and really happy my short game bailed me out on a day that could have been a lot worse.”

Corey Conners, Collin Morikawa and Ludvig Aberg also were at 68, with defending champion Viktor Hovland among those tied for seventh at 69.

Australian pair Cam Davis and Jason Day (both 73) were tied with seven others in 35th.

Davis ended one-over after a double bogey on the par-4 6th, while Day endured a roller-coaster round of five birdies, four bogeys and a double on the par-4 9th.

Day-one leader Hadwin hasn’t finished in the top-40 since late March, and his world ranking has dropped from No.44 to No.59 as he targets a spot at the Paris Games.

“Over the last month I’ve probably played my way … not out of the conversation, but certainly out of a good position to be in,” Hadwin said of his selection chances.

Only 25 players from the 73-man field managed to break par, a group that included Rory McIlroy at 70 – and that was with four birdies on his last six holes.

– Doug Ferguson