DUBLIN, Ohio – In a captivating display of skill amid challenging conditions, Canada’s Nick Taylor and American Ben Griffin share the lead after Round 2 of the PGA Tour’s Memorial Tournament at rain-drenched Muirfield Village. Both players sit at 7-under par 137, setting the stage for a high-stakes weekend at Jack Nicklaus’ signature event.
Taylor’s Precision Iron Play Steals the Spotlight
Nick Taylor, fresh off his fifth PGA Tour victory at January’s Sony Open, fired a flawless 4-under 68 Friday. His round featured four birdies and zero bogeys, highlighted by clutch putting on treacherous greens. “My irons were razor-sharp,” Taylor revealed. “On the back nine, I drained multiple 5-6 foot par saves that kept momentum alive.”
Key moments in Taylor’s round included:
- A 24-foot birdie bomb on the 4th hole
- Back-to-back birdies at the 8th (2 feet) and 9th (20 feet)
- A final birdie on the 13th to cement his spot atop the leaderboard
Griffin Battles Elements to Hold Ground
Overnight leader Ben Griffin carded an even-par 71 despite brutal rough and soggy conditions. The Colonial winner last week acknowledged the challenge: “Today was a grind. Wet rough makes every shot punishing – the ball sinks to the bottom, and escapes are nearly impossible.” Griffin salvaged his round with critical breaks on several holes where errant drives still found greens.
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Chasing Pack: Bhatia and Scheffler Lurk
- Akshay Bhatia (69) sits solo third at 5-under after what he called “the best iron performance of my life.” His round included five birdies and two flagstick-rattling approaches.
- World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler (70) overcame a double-bogey at the 10th with instant birdies on 11 and 12. At 4-under, he’s just three strokes back.
Leaderboard Snapshot
| Position | Player | Score | Round 2 Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| T1 | Nick Taylor | -7 | Bogey-free 68, 15/18 GIR |
| T1 | Ben Griffin | -7 | Key up-and-downs from rough |
| 3 | Akshay Bhatia | -5 | 5 birdies, elite iron precision |
| 4 | Scottie Scheffler | -4 | Birdie-birdie rebound after double bogey |
| T5 | Sam Burns | -3 | Tournament-low 65 (7 birdies) |
Weather Woes Test Field
Persistent rain transformed Muirfield Village into a survival test. Griffin noted later starters had slight advantages, but all faced “tricky lies” in saturated rough. Taylor’s strategy? “Keep it simple: sharp speed control led to stress-free tap-in pars.”
Looking Ahead: Moving Day Intrigue
With Burns rocketing 42 spots up the board with a 65 and stars like Spieth (-3) and Lowry (-3) in contention, Saturday promises fireworks. As Scheffler summarized after his 70: “Solid day when you consider the elements – we’re all fighting the same battle.”
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