Rain-soaked rounds yield shared lead for Canada's Nick Taylor at Memorial Tournament
In the second round of the Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Village, Canadian golfer Nick Taylor and American Ben Griffin share the lead, both posting scores of 7 under par. Taylor, a native of Abbotsford, British Columbia, and a former Washington Huskie, displayed remarkable resilience in challenging weather conditions, carding a bogey-free 68.
Griffin, who benefited from improved weather in the afternoon, registered 16 pars, one birdie, and a bogey for a 72. Both players find themselves atop the leaderboard, with Taylor set to compete next week in the RBC Canadian Open at TPC Toronto.
Notable performances include Akshay Bhatia, who trails by two strokes, followed by defending champion Scottie Scheffler. Scheffler, the world's top-ranked player, narrowly avoided a significant drop with a 70, considering the difficult playing conditions.
Mackenzie Hughes of Dundas, Ontario, is tied for 12th at even par, while Taylor Pendrith and Corey Conners, both from Ontario, and Adam Hadwin of Abbotsford, British Columbia, trail the leaders.
This year's Memorial Tournament has seen one of the highest 36-hole scores to lead the event since 2012, with the course's rigorous rough serving as an additional challenge, mimicking the forthcoming U.S. Open at Oakmont.
Taylor and several other athletes demonstrated that maintaining accuracy off the tee and striking decent irons can result in impressive scores. Notable rounds included Sam Burns' 65 in the morning, Justin Rose's 66, and Jordan Spieth's late surge, which saw him birdie three of the last four holes for a 69.
Collin Morikawa, a contender throughout the early stages, struggled on the par 5s, posting scores of 3 over, including five shots from 50 feet away. This left him tied for 27th at 2 under, alongside Xander Schauffele, who started his day poorly but recovered with four birdies in his final five holes.
Hideki Matsuyama narrowly preserved his spot in the weekend's play with a dramatic par on the 18th, which saw him clear a stream running down the left side of the fairway and eventually get up-and-down from the mangled rough.
Weather played a significant role in the tournament, with challenging conditions for some players in the morning, while improved weather helped others in the afternoon. In Toronto, the RBC Canadian Open's leaderboard will be of interest, as Nick Taylor, who demonstrated resilience in difficult weather conditions at the Memorial Tournament, is set to compete next week. Additionally, sports enthusiasts may be interested in the latest golf news, as several top-ranked players are making impressive scores at the Memorial Tournament.
