Rory McIlroy snapped his string of three straight missed cuts in style Friday, shooting a 5-under 65 to take the lead into the weekend at the St. Jude Classic in Memphis, Tenn.
McIlroy, trying to tune up before heading to San Francisco for his U.S. Open title defense at the Olympic Club, birdied three of his final four holes, and had an eagle, five birdies and two bogeys to match his lowest PGA Tour round this year.
With a birdie on No. 18, McIlroy reached 7 under to break out of a four-way tie for the lead.
“It’s nice to see my name on that part of the leaderboard,” McIlroy said.
At 6-under are Jeff Maggert (68), J.B. Holmes (64) and Kevin Stadler (65).
PAK SURGES
Se Ri Pak, playing for the first time since injuring her shoulder in early April, shot a 1-under 71 to take a one-shot lead after the second round of the LPGA Championship in Pittsford, N.Y.
Pak was at 3-under 141, one shot ahead of Inbee Park (70), Paula Creamer (72), Mika Miyazato (72) and Sandra Gal (71).
GLASSON SHINES
Bill Glasson shot a 3-under 69 to take a two-stroke lead over Russ Cochran after the second round of the Regions Tradition in Birmingham, Ala.
Glasson had a 9-under 135 total at Shoal Creek.
ELSEWHERE
England’s Lee Westwood shot a 4-under 68 to maintain a three-stroke lead after the third round of the European Tour’s Nordea Masters in Bro, Sweden. … North Dakota State amateur Amy Anderson teamed to win two points on the first day of the Curtis Cup matches in Nairn, Scotland. The U.S. took a 4-2 lead over Great Britain and Ireland. … Grace Park, 33, who won the 2004 Kraft Nabisco title among her six LPGA wins, announced her retirement.
TRACKING LOCALS ON THE PGA TOUR
This week: FedEx St. Jude Classic, through Sunday, TPC Southwind, Memphis, Tenn.
In the field: Gig Harbor’s Kyle Stanley and Tacoma’s Troy Kelly.
Stanley’s second-round score: Even-par 70.
Kelly’s second-round score: 1-over 71.
Position: Kelly (1-under 139) is tied for 22nd, and Stanley (1-over 141) is tied for 52nd. Rory McIlroy (7-under 133) leads.
Recap: Kelly made double bogey at the same hole as Thursday – No. 2 – but he made three birdies the rest of way on putts of 10 feet or shorter. He lipped out for eagle at the 16th hole that would have kept him at 2 under for the tournament. … Stanley’s missed-cut streak is over at four tournaments, but he was in danger when he made bogeys at the 11th and 12th holes to go 3 over. He made back-to-back birdies at two of the toughest holes – No. 13 (9-foot putt) and No. 14 (11-footer) – and finished off a stretch of three birdies in four holes by almost chipping in at the par-5 16th for eagle, then making the tap-in putt for birdie.
Tee times today: Stanley at 6:43 a.m. (PDT), Kelly at 8:25 a.m.
todd.milles@thenewstribune.com
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