Round two of the Memorial saw Nick Taylor and Ben Griffin co-lead at seven-under amidst brutal rain and punishing rough, with Scottie Scheffler ominously close and a dramatic cut made at plus five.
MEMORIAL ROUND 2: TAYLOR & GRIFFIN BATTLE THE ELEMENTS
- Marquee storyline: Nick Taylor and Ben Griffin battled through "brutal" rain and Muirfield Village's punishing rough to share the 36-hole lead at seven-under, setting the stage for a tough weekend.
- Supporting stat or quote: Taylor, who shot 68, noted, "Par's a good score out here," while Griffin (72) called his round "a grind."
- Human angle or fun fact: Taylor likened the rain to "a pretty standard day in Seattle," while Griffin, dubbed "hottest golfer on the PGA TOUR," credited his new seven-wood for escaping "bad lies" in the "even more penal" wet rough.
CHASERS & MOVERS: BHATIA, SCHEFFLER, BURNS & ROSE SHINE
- Marquee storyline: Akshay Bhatia surged to third with what he called "the best iron play ever," Scottie Scheffler ominously positioned himself three back, Sam Burns fired a stunning 65, and Justin Rose bounced back with a 66.
- Supporting stat or quote: Burns' 65 was the day's low round; he found the "nasty" conditions "helpful by forcing intense focus." Bhatia sits at five-under.
- Human angle or fun fact: Scheffler (+175 DraftKings favorite) also employed a seven-wood to combat the "really long" course, carding a "grind" of a 70.
MUIRFIELD'S BITE & CUT LINE DRAMA
- Marquee storyline: Muirfield Village lived up to its "unrelenting" reputation with only eleven players under par (par-5 15th playing easiest, par-3 12th a beast), as a +5 cut saw Justin Thomas make a heroic charge.
- Supporting stat or quote: The crucial cut fell at +5 (correction: not a no-cut event). Justin Thomas fired a second-round 69 after an opening 80 to make it on the number.
- Human angle or fun fact: Adam Scott, after a R1 79, embodied perseverance ("giving up is not an option") to make the cut, while Matti Schmid agonizingly missed by one.
Quick Hits
Brian Campbell WD (shoulder) • Xander Schauffele's "electric eagle" on 7 ("not supposed to happen from there") • Jordan Spieth & Shane Lowry T5 • Morikawa, Homa, Bradley stumble • Moving Day: Leaders to separate or Scheffler to charge? • Winds forecast to pick up
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