DUBLIN, Ohio — Steve Flesch never had to hit a sand shot, and even he didn't like the bunkers at the Memorial Tournament.

Flesch was 6-under and had the day's best round going on the final hole before threatening weather called an end to Thursday's opening round of the tournament.

The No. 1 topic of discussion around Muirfield Village wasn't Sean O'Hair, the clubhouse leader with a 5-under 67. It also wasn't the other 30 players who went subpar, or the 30 still on the course when play was suspended.

All anyone could talk about was the course's rakes, which left high furrows in the traps.

"It's frustrating just to watch other guys try to get out of them," Flesch said of the furrowed bunkers. "I haven't been in one, but I've just seen so many bad shots from guys who are in them. The guys that I'm playing with, they can't get it inside 30 feet. That's crazy."

Late last week, tournament founder Jack Nicklaus called the PGA Tour office and asked if he could try something new. He wanted to snap off every other tine on the rakes, which then left deeper, wider lines in the bunkers instead of the perfectly smooth and flat surfaces the pros are accustomed to.

Jeff Maggert, who shot a 73, said the decision to leave the furrows in the bunkers was "Mickey Mouse."

Nick Price shot a 69 and then he vented.

"I don't like it at all," he said. "I don't think there's one player out here who does."

Tour officials said they would continue to groom the bunkers exactly as they had in the first round. They plan to reserve judgment on whether to implement the changes in other tournaments.

The controversy stole the spotlight from several interesting subplots.

Flesch, playing what he called the best golf he had played in 18 months, was nearly flawless. After turning in 3-under and posting a bogey on the 10th hole, he birdied four of the next six holes.

After splitting the fairway at No. 18, he said he had no problem with having to get up to finish what he had started. He's being followed by a large gallery — many of them related to him — who made the two-hour trip north.

"They're all here," he said. "Not just my family, but half of Northern Kentucky is here."

O'Hair recovered from a double bogey from the bunker at No. 3, birdieing four of the next six holes. He closed with an 8 iron to within 2 feet for his seventh birdie in his 67.

He opened the year by finishing 27th in a 28-man field at the Mercedes, and then missing the cut in his next four starts.

"There's been a lot of negative thoughts going on," he said. "Over the last month I'm starting to see a little bit of progress. I've been working pretty hard."

Zach Johnson was 4 under with a hole left to play.

Phil Mickelson led the large group at 3 under, despite bogeys on the final two holes.