Steve Stricker hit a hole-in-one as he surged into a three-shot lead at the halfway stage of The Memorial Tournament.
The American followed up his first-round 68 with a five-under-par 67 on Friday to improve to nine-under and create a commanding three-shot lead over a group of players on six-under that includes Rory McIlroy.
Stricker began his day with five successive pars before picking up his first shot with a birdie at the par-five 15th. The 44-year-old bogeyed the next two holes, however, to reach the turn at one-over, but he responded immediately with another birdie at the par-four first. Stricker then picked up a couple more birdies at the fifth and sixth before his highlight of the day, a hole-in-one at the 188-yard eighth hole. And he capped off a fine day with his fifth birdie of the day at the ninth to surge ahead.
Stricker aces the eighth
Leading the chasing pack on six under are Mclroy, Ricky Barnes (70), Jonathan Byrd (67) and Rod Pampling (66). McIlroy held a share of the lead heading into the second day but struggled to build on a fine first round with a mixed 18 holes on Friday. The Northern Irishman made an impressive six birdies, but four bogeys and a double-bogey meant he had to settle for an even-par round.
New world number one Luke Donald is a shot further back on five-under thanks to a second-round 69. The 33-year-old Englishman made seven birdies and four bogeys in a three-under-par day that ensured he would go into the weekend tied for sixth place with Aaron Baddeley (68), Kevin Stadler (68), Brandt Jobe (68), Ryan Moore (70) and Josh Teater (72).
Phil Mickelson produced an improved second-round, making three birdies and a bogey in a two-under-par round of 70 that saw the American improve to two-under, while Players Championship winner KJ Choi is one-under through 36 holes after shooting 73 on Friday.
But one man who will not be playing this weekend is defending champion Justin Rose. The Englishman followed up a first-round 71 with a three-over-par 75 that meant he missed the cut at two-over.
