On a day when Rory McIlroy was absolutely terrible and Phil Mickelson made more headlines off the course than on it, England’s Paul Casey was the Memorial’s “Steady Eddie”.
Casey recorded his second straight 6-under 66 to take over the overall lead, dropping to 12-under on the tournament, the only player in double-digits under par.
Casey leads Masters champion Bubba Watson by three strokes after Watson followed up his own 66 with a 3-under 69.
American Chris Kirk is third at 8-under, followed by Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama and the US’ Martin Flores at 7-under.
Casey made two bogeys on the day, but countered them six birdies and an eagle 3 on No. 15. His 66, matched by American Scott Langley, was the low round of the day.
Watson was 4-under through seven holes, then played the rest of the way like a roller-coaster ride. He bogeyed No. 8 to reach the turn at 3-under, then his back nine went like this: par, birdie, bogey, birdie, bogey, eagle, par, bogey, bogey.
Not exactly the consistency a golfer strives for.
World No. 1 Adam Scott finished 2-under on the day and is tied for 10th with six others at 5-under, seven strokes off the lead.
The fade of all fades went to Day 1 leader Rory McIlroy, who followed up his sensational 63 with an abysmal 78, falling from first to a tie for 24th at 3-under.
McIlroy did not start off poorly, at 1-under through the front nine,and was still there through 12, but the wheels came off the wagon as he recorded three straight double bogeys on 13, 14 and 15. He shook out of it to par 16 and 17, then bogeyed 18 as well, finishing the back nine at 7-over.
GolfBlogger.co.uk 