2013 Golf: Bill Haas Claims 54 Hole Lead At The Memorial

Teeing off early on Friday morning, Bill Haas was able to get out at The Memorial, put up a nice score, and get into the clubhouse before having to deal with the weather. Haas carded a second round -5 under par 67 to take a one-shot lead over South African, Charl Schwartzel who did not escape the weather. Haas will play with the 2011 Masters Champ when action gets underway on Saturday afternoon.

May 31, 2013; Dublin, OH, USA; Bill Haas hits from the 17th fairway during the second round of The Memorial Tournament at the Muirfield Village Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

Weather was a problem on Friday evening at Muirfield Village in Dublin, Ohio as play was suspended two times during the afternoon, and play was eventually halted due to darkness before everyone could finish their rounds. The second round was completed early on Saturday morning, and third round action is set to begin. Play will begin early in an attempt to get the third round in before more weather arrives. The leaders will tee off at 11:40 AM.

Bill Haas has a two-day total at -9 under par, and a one-shot lead over Schwartzel at -8 under par, but there are a host of top golfers who are waiting in the wings to pounce, if he starts making bogeys on Saturday. Kyle Stanley is sitting two strokes back, in solo possession of third place, but 2013 Match Play Champion, Matt Kuchar, and 2012 Masters Champ, Bubba Watson are sitting at -6, and only three back.

Bubba got his putter working on Friday, and matched Haas’ 67 in the afternoon action. His greens in regulation numbers have remained at 72% throughout the week at Muirfield, but on Friday, he gained two strokes with the flat stick. Bubba is always long off the tee, erratic and hits greens with regularity. His only nemesis is his putter. Bubba is either on or off, there is no in between. On Friday, it was on.

Rory McIlroy was able to redeem his first round 78 with a respectful -3 under 69 on Friday. He will make the generous cut at +3 over par, and get to play on the weekend. The youngster from Northern Ireland had a decent round, but picked up two bogeys at 16 and 17 before getting in the clubhouse. He was able to improve his driving accuracy almost 20 points on Friday, and he started to make a few putts. He was the last player to make the field, and will be first off in the third round.

Tiger Woods looked disoriented on both Thursday and Friday, and seemed to let the wind, and lightning fast greens get to him. He made an abnormal double bogey on the par five 15th hole which is giving three shots back to the field. He just doesn’t look comfortable at a golf course and tournament in which he has dominated for over a decade. He has won here a unprecedeted five times, and is the defending champion.

Among those missing the cut, were Lee Westwood, who had a meltdown at Virginia Waters last Sunday and doesn’t appear to have recovered. Nick Watney shot 82-77 which will not make the cut at my local scramble, and 14 year-old Guan Tianlang who managed only four birdies in the first two rounds on Jack’s monster,  finished at 79 for his second round. Guan was at -3.343 in strokes gained putting on Friday, and it’s easy to see why he didn’t make the cut. 2012 FedEx Cup Champion, Brandt Snedeker shot even par in the first round, but ballooned to an 80 on Friday.

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