9/04/2013

Golf: Bill Haas claims three-stroke lead at the Memorial

American Bill Haas rebounded from successive missed cuts on the US PGA Tour to grab a three-shot lead in a weather-hit second round at the Memorial Tournament in Dublin, Ohio.

While five-times champion and last year's winner Tiger Woods battled to a 2-over-par 74 in gusting winds at Muirfield Village Golf Club to sit 10 strokes off the pace, Haas putted superbly on lightning-fast greens to fire a 5-under 67.

Though Haas bogeyed his final hole, the par-four 18th, after hitting his approach over the back of the green, he was delighted to take control of the popular event hosted by Jack Nicklaus with a 9-under total.

Compatriot Matt Kuchar is in second place on 6-under courtesy of his 2-under 70 and Swede Robert Karlsson was at 4-under after shooting a 71.

Australia's Matt Jones (72), and Americans Pat Perez (69) and Hunter Mahan (68) sit a further stroke back.

Jones' fellow Australian John Senden was 1-under following an even-par 72 in his second round.

Play was suspended for the day just after 7:00pm (local time) on Friday due to the threat of lightning, after two previous weather delays which totalled just under two hours.

Forty-two players were still out on the course and will have to complete the second round on Saturday morning (local time).

Among those were overnight leader Charl Schwartzel of South Africa, after 15 holes, and 2012 Masters champion Bubba Watson, after 14, who were both at 6-under for the tournament.

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