Halfway hut at the Memorial Tournament: Jon Rahm shares lead in rain-hit Ohio
A round-up of the best stats, quotes and social after two days of this week’s PGA TOUR event at Muirfield Village.
And when he came out for round two soon after, the Spaniard reeled off six birdies and a bogey in his first 13 holes before the horn blew to end play for darkness.
That charge left Rahm tied at the top on 8-under alongside 36-hole clubhouse leader Patrick Cantlay, who birdied his final three holes in a second-round 67.
Much of the talk among punters this week was about the major renovations at the Jack Nicklaus par 72 and how they could affect previous course form.
On the evidence so far the answer is 'not much': Rahm won here in 2020 and Cantlay the year before!
Two other course winners were also in the top eight when darkness descended on Friday evening: Collin Morikawa, who landed the Workday Charity Open played at Muirfield Village last year, and Hideki Matsuyama, the 2014 Memorial champion.
Two-time Memorial runner-up Rickie Fowler is tied for fifth. He has seven holes to complete while Xander Schauffele, also at 5-under and three back, has six.
Patrick Cantlay, who leads at @MemorialGolf, has shot in the 60s in 8 of his 16 career rounds in the tournament.
— Justin Ray (@JustinRayGolf) June 4, 2021
Cantlay is the only player in the last 30 years with 50% or more of his rounds at the Memorial in the 60s (minimum 10 rounds played).
As it stands, the projected cut is +2 so Gary Woodland and Matt Fizpatrick, both +4 after 14, have work to do if they want to play the final 36 holes.
The rest of the big names should be part of the full weekend cast although Rahm has the chance to put plenty of distance between himself and Justin Thomas (-2 after 13), Jordan Spieth (-1), Bryson DeChambeau (-1) and Rory McIlroy (Evs). The latter three have all completed 36 holes.
Paddy Power odds: 2/1 Jon Rahm, 7/2 Patrick Cantlay, 8/1 Xander Schauffele, 12/1 Scottie Scheffler, 20/1 Collin Morikawa, Hideki Matsuyama, Tony Finau, 22/1 Max Homa, 28/1 Rickie Fowler, 33/1 Justin Thomas, Carlos Ortiz, 50/1 Victor Hovland
Stats and facts
In fact, it may be worth having a word in his ear to post 7-under and sit one back. The last six times Rahm has been one behind at halfway, he's gone on to win on three occasions. That includes this event last year as well as the 2018 CareerBuilder Challenge and the 2017 Irish Open.
Quotes
Patrick Cantlay on recent improvements and his long day
Scottie Scheffler on his day and overall play this season
Jordan Spieth on recovering from an opening 76 to shoot 67 in round two
Bryson DeChambeau after rounds of 71-72
Rory McIlroy after a pair of 72s
Adam Scott on the course changes
Social
Finishing the day with a tap-in birdie. ✔️@JonRahmPGA grabs a share of the lead at the suspension of play. pic.twitter.com/Tpbl1744UE
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) June 5, 2021
Three in a row to finish 🐦@Patrick_Cantlay birdies his last three holes and takes a 2-shot lead @MemorialGolf. pic.twitter.com/ifETnbfggi
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) June 4, 2021
Back-to-back birdies for @RickieFowler.
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) June 4, 2021
He's 3 shots back @MemorialGolf. pic.twitter.com/FODwKhURSy
The closest approach of the day at No. 5 🎯@B_DeChambeau gets back into red numbers by making the first eagle of his career at Muirfield Village. pic.twitter.com/WR67PUzIsk
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) June 4, 2021
Firing darts into the sunset. 🎯@Collin_Morikawa starts the back nine with birdie to get within 1. pic.twitter.com/DQMojn12s4
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) June 5, 2021