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Rory McIlroy tees off on the 11th hole. Jay LaPrete/AP/Press Association Images
Improving

Haas clings to lead, McIlroy makes the cut

The Irish golfer rallied to finish off a second-round 69 on Saturday.

AMERICA’S BILL HAAS clung to a one-stroke lead over South African Charl Schwartzel after Saturday’s completion of the storm-interrupted second round of the $6.2 million US PGA Memorial tournament.

Haas made an eagle and five birdies in a five-under par 67 that he completed on Friday to stand on nine-under 135 while Schwartzel, who opened with a 65 on Thursday, finished off a second-round 71 on Saturday morning to stand on 136.

American Kyle Stanley, also among 42 players on the course when play was halted on Friday, returned and finished a round of 70 to take third on 137, one stroke ahead of compatriots Matt Kuchar and Bubba Watson.

England’s Justin Rose, Sweden’s Robert Karlsson and American Scott Stallings shared sixth on 140 as the third round began early in hopes of finishing play before more storms were forecast to arrive Saturday afternoon.

A total of 73 players made the cut on three-over par 147, with defending champion Tiger Woods well back in his bid for a sixth title in the event hosted by Jack Nicklaus at Muirfield Village. Rory McIlroy is also struggling.

World number one Woods, already a four-time PGA winner this season, fired a 74 on Friday to stand 10 off the lead and stumbled early in the third round he began at the 10th tee with double bogeys at the par-3 12th and par-5 15th.

It was his second double bogey in as many days at 15 and it left him five-over for the tournament, next-to-last.

World number two McIlroy opened with a 78 but rallied to finish off a second-round 69 on Saturday to make the second half of the tournament on the cut line of 147, 12 strokes behind Haas.

Among those missing the cut was Chinese teen amateur Guan Tianlang, who slipped to a 79 on Friday after opening with a solid 72.

The 14-year-old prodigy won low amateur honours at the Masters in April, when he became the youngest player to compete at Augusta National.

He followed that up by making the cut at the PGA tournament in New Orleans, but missed the cut in the Byron Nelson Championship last month.

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