DUBLIN, Ohio - Ernie Els believes he will win the Memorial Tournament before the end of his career. He might just win it before the end of the week.

The South African followed form by again playing well at Muirfield Village Golf Club, shooting a 4-under 68 Thursday to share the lead with hometown favorite Ben Curtis.

''I've had a couple of good tournaments here,'' Els said. ''Tiger is too good. I finished second here three or four years ago, shot a 65 in the final round and still lost by five shots.''

In 10 previous appearances in the Memorial, Els has finished 13th or better seven times.

''I've played well here and it's a course that I feel I can keep playing well,'' said Els, who had an eagle and five birdies in his 68. ''It really sets up to my game. I feel I can hopefully win here by the end of my career.''

While Els is striving for his 14th PGA Tour victory, Curtis is trying to prove that his only win wasn't a fluke.

Curtis was ranked No. 396 in the world when he shocked the golf world last July in the British Open. Thomas Bjorn had a miserable final round and several other challengers faded down the stretch, leaving the rookie from tiny Ostrander, Ohio, with the claret jug.

''I haven't really done anything since,'' Curtis said. ''Until I do, it will be a Cinderella story.''

Curtis has missed as many cuts (five) as he has made on American soil in 2004 and ranks No. 133 on the PGA Tour money list.

In other words, Curtis' game is about where it was before he went to Sandwich, England, last summer.

He grew up about 20 minutes away from Muirfield Village on the public course built by his grandparents out of a farm field and now operated by his parents. On Thursday, his father was back at Mill Creek Golf Club trying to fix a tractor and finish the mowing before the weekend.

At every green during the first round, Ben Curtis received a warm reception from his large family and dozens of friends. He had missed the cut on a sponsor's exemption a year ago at the Memorial, which he used to watch as a spectator when he was a kid.

''I think every hole that I went to, people were clapping,'' said Curtis, who had four birdies in his bogey-free round. ''A year ago I could hear the familiar voices yelling out to me, but obviously it's a lot different now.''

The co-leaders, the last two Brutish Open winners, took different routes to the same number. Els had 13 one-putt greens and Curtis hit 14 greens in regulation.

Paul Azinger, who holed a memorable sand shot on the 72nd hole to win the 1993 Memorial, was tied for third with Fred Couples, Lee Janzen, Stephen Ames, Zach Johnson, Todd Hamilton, John Rollins and Arron Oberholzer.