Haas leads as Tiger falters at Memorial
DUBLIN, Ohio — Bill Haas played the best golf in the toughest conditions Friday in the rain-delayed Memorial.
When the second round was suspended as dark clouds rolled in and forced the third stoppage in play, Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy were close to each other on the leaderboard, even if they were miles away from Haas, who had a 5-under 67.
That didn’t bode well for Woods, the five-time Memorial winner who had a most peculiar round in wind and on fast greens. He 3-putted from 5 feet for double bogey on the par-5 15th, chopped up the final hole for a bogey and wound up with a 74.
“Tough conditions out there, and I didn’t exactly play my best, either,” said Woods, who had his worst 36-hole total (145) at the Memorial since he first played it in 1997.
McIlroy was in danger of missing the cut until he fired off five birdies, looking more comfortable with his putts and attacking with his driver. He was 4 under for his round and1shot inside the cut line — and 1 shot behind Woods. McIlroy was in a greenside bunker in 2 shots at the par-5 15th when play was stopped.
“The major goal (Friday) was to try to make it into the weekend,” McIlroy said. “I’m on the right track to do that.”
The second round was to resume at 4:30 (Arizona time) this morning.
The Memorial has a long history of bad weather, and it’s a tough spot for it to happen. Slugger White, the tour’s vice president of competition, said more storms were expected early this afternoon and into Sunday morning. Ohio is on the western edge of the eastern time zone, allowing for long hours of daylight.
LPGA Tour
GALLOWAY TOWNSHIP, N.J. — Threetime NCAA Player of the Year Amanda Blumenherst of Scottsdale and LPGA rookie leader Moriya Jutanugarn shot 5under 66 to top the leaderboard in the ShopRite LPGA Classic, a stroke ahead of defending champion Stacy Lewis.
Blumenherst, who is married to Oakland Athletics first baseman Nate Freiman, starred at Phoeix Xavier Prep and went on to play at Duke.
Michelle Wie, who a decade ago made one of her first appearances on the women’s tour as a 13-year-old in this event, was 2 shots behind after tying her lowest numerical score of what has been a very disappointing season.
The Bay Course at the Stockton Seaview Hotel and Golf Club was the big winner. Only 18 of the 143 players who finished, including just five in the afternoon round, broke par on the 6,155-yard course that played tougher because of wind and bumpy greens.
Having Lewis near the top of the leaderboard is almost a given these days. The defending LPGA Player of the Year has eight top-10 finishes in 11 events, including two wins and earnings of $722,868.
Champions Tour
DES MOINES, Iowa — Tom Lehman, Duffy Waldorf, Dan Forsman and Scott Hoch shot 3-under 69 to share the firstround lead in the Principal Charity Classic.
Hale Irwin, who turns 68 on Monday, topped a group of eight at 70. Defending champion Jay Haas had a 71, and tour points leader Bernhard Langer had a 72.
This event is in its first year at Wakonda Club. The tournament was held at Glen Oaks Country Club in neighboring West Des Moines 11 of the past 12 years.