Haas leads, Tiger 10 back at Memorial

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This article was published 01/06/2013 (4820 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

DUBLIN, Ohio — Bill Haas played the best golf in the toughest conditions Friday in the rain-delayed Memorial.

When the second round was suspended as dark clouds rolled in and forced the third stoppage in play, Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy were close to each other on the leaderboard, even if they were miles away from Haas, who had a 5-under 67.

That didn’t bode well for Woods, the five-time Memorial winner who had a most peculiar round in wind and on fast greens. He three-putted from 5 feet for double bogey on the par-5 15th, chopped up the final hole for a bogey and wound up with a 74.

“Tough conditions out there, and I didn’t exactly play my best, either,” said Woods, who had his worst 36-hole total (145) at the Memorial since he first played it in 1997.

McIlroy was in danger of missing the cut until he fired off five birdies, looking more comfortable with his putts and attacking with his driver. He was 4 under for his round and one shot inside the cut line — and one shot behind Woods. McIlroy was in a greenside bunker in two shots at the par-5 15th when play was stopped.

“The major goal today was to try to make it into the weekend,” McIlroy said. “I’m on the right track to do that.”

The second round was to resume at 7:30 a.m. Saturday.

David Hearn of Brantford, Ont., shot his second straight 71 and sits at 2 under in a tie for 16th. Graham DeLaet of Weyburn, Sask., was still on the course when play was suspended and is also at 2 under.

Mike Weir of Brights Grove Ont., was also still on the course at sat right at the projected cut of 3 over.

— The Associated Press