Schwartzel makes strong finish

Haas’ lead trimmed to one, McIlroy survives Memorial cut.

DUBLIN:

Former Masters champion Charl Schwartzel birdied his last two holes to trim Bill Haas’ overnight lead to one shot when the weather-delayed second round of the Memorial Tournament was completed yesterday.

South African Schwartzel, the first-round pacesetter after opening with a sizzling seven-under-par 65, rolled in a 12-footer at the 17th and a four-footer at the 18th to card a 71 on a challenging layout made more receptive by overnight rain.

That left him at eight-under 136, a stroke behind American Haas who had fired a 67 in tough, windy conditions at Muirfield Village Golf Club on Friday to take control of the PGA Tour event hosted by Jack Nicklaus.

Five-times champion and last year’s winner Tiger Woods was 10 strokes off the pace, having battled to a 74 the previous day, while Northern Irishman world number two Rory McIlroy made the cut right on the number, after returning a 69.

Schwartzel pleased

The former Masters champion was delighted with his unexpectedly strong finish.

“I thought if I could somehow get one back and get my round back to even, I’d be very happy,” the 2011 Masters champion told reporters about his hopes with three holes to play.

“I managed to make two, coming up 17 and 18. I’m very pleased with the way it turned out. Yesterday we had some tough conditions, everyone did.”

McIlroy, who had four holes to complete on an overcast morning at Muirfield Village, scraped into the third round despite a messy bogey-bogey-par finish.

“Relieved and frustrated at the same time, I guess,” said McIlroy, who had left himself with an uphill task to make the cut after opening with a 78. “I need to commit more to my shots and not guide the ball as much, just let it go.”

Kyle Stanley was alone in third at seven under after shooting a 70, with fellow Americans Matt Kuchar (70) and Bubba Watson (67) a further stroke back.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 2^nd, 2013.