Los Angeles, United States | Tony Finau shook off two early bogeys to post a three-under-par 69 on Friday and maintain a share of the lead alongside Ryan Palmer early in the second round of the US PGA Tour Memorial.
As reigning Masters champion Tiger Woods struggled with back issues on his way to a four-over-par 76 — and possibly his first ever missed cut at the Memorial — overnight leader Finau and Palmer, who started the day one back, steered a steady course.
Finau capped his round with an approach to two feet for his fifth birdie of the day at his final hole, the ninth, finishing 36 holes on nine-under par 135.
"I was really happy with the finish, the way I finished," said Finau, who opened with a bogey at the 10th and dropped another shot at 12 before rolling in an 11-foot birdie putt at the 15th and a two-footer at 17.
"Not the ideal start, but I knew I couldn't look back after 12, just keep on plugging along and try to hit good shot after good shot, and was able to execute a lot better after that," added Finau, who birdied five and seven before his impressive closing flourish.
Palmer also bounced back from an early bogey, notching five birdies in his four-under 68.
Their closest pursuer in the clubhouse was Spain's Jon Rahm, who carded a 67 for 136.
Reigning US Open champion Gary Woodland fired a 70 and was two adrift.
World number two Rahm had six birdies in his five-under effort, bolstering his bid to overtake Rory McIlroy atop the world rankings this week.
With Muirfield Village in Dublin, Ohio, playing tough, McIlroy took a wild path to an even-par 72 and a two-under total of 142.
The Northern Ireland star's round included a double-bogey, an eagle, four birdies and four bogeys.
"I don't know what it was," said McIlroy, who dunked a ball in a creek at 11 and landed his approach from the fairway eight feet from the pin for eagle at the fifth. "It was a few birdies and an eagle thrown in there and a few mistakes.
"There's some good in there, some mediocre and there was some pretty poor shots," McIlroy said. "But I battled back well."
But Woods, playing his first PGA Tour event since February after a tour shutdown in March over the coronavirus pandemic, was battling more than Muirfield.
– Tiger in trouble –
The 44-year-old Woods, who said his back was bothering him even as he warmed up, had five bogeys and a double-bogey with just three birdies.
A solid finish, with two birdies and a par save in his final three holes, didn't do much to improve his outlook.
"Not very good," Woods said. "I three-putted two holes early, and whatever kind of momentum I was going to create, I stifled that early and fought it the rest of the day."
Woods was left facing a tense afternoon wait to see if his three-over total would make the cut.
The five-time Memorial winner has never missed a cut in 17 prior appearances in the tournament hosted by Jack Nicklaus.
