Dublin, Ohio, June 4: It was a disappointing exit for Anirban Lahiri, who carded 1-over 73 and missed the cut at the Memorial Tournament presented by Workday. Lahiri, who shot 74 on the first day finished at 3-over 147 and missed the cut by one shot on a glorious afternoon Friday at Muirfield Village.
Two missed par putts from inside five feet on fifth and 12th which the bogeyed and a trip into the water on the Par-5 which left him with a par, saw Lahiri miss the cut for the second start in a row. He missed the cut at the US PGA Championship at Southern Hills.
Lahiri most likely next start will be at the Travelers Championship.
Cameron Smith playing some of his best golf moved into the lead. Among the highlights was a hole out with a downhill chip from beyond the green on the par-3 12th that carried him to a 3-under 69.
Smith was one shot ahead of Denny McCarthy and K.H. Lee at the end of the 36 holes. In six previous appearances, Smith only made the cut twice and both times and finished outside the top 60. His best round was a 71.
But Smith, now a winner of THE PLAYERS Championship and the Sentry Tournament of Champions is in a different frame of mind and in some superb form. His rounds of 67-69 gave him a total of 8-under 136.
Billy Horschel had a birdie chance at almost every hole but ended with four-under 68 that left him in the group two shots behind with Torrey Pines winner Luke List, PGA TOUR rookies Cameron Young and Davis Riley, and Jhonattan Vegas.
Rory McIlroy with a 69 and was three shots behind and defending champion Patrick Cantlay closed with two big par putts for a 69 and was at 3-under 141.
The cut fell at 2-over 146. Among those missing out on the weekend were Bryson DeChambeau and Harris English, both of whom were coming back from injuries. DeChambeau who had a hand surgery had not played since the Masters and English underwent a hip surgery) and had not played since the Sony Open in January.
Jon Rahm, winner here in 2020, had a 70 and was at 2-under 142, six shots behind. He was six shots ahead after three rounds last year until his positive COVID-19 test forced his withdrawal.
Korea’s Lee stayed on Smith’s heels. Lee traded four birdies, which included a 40-foot monster putt, against two bogeys for a two-day total of 7-under 137 as World No. 3 Smith stepped up his bid for a third victory of the season.
Another Korean, Sungjae Im kept himself in contention with a second successive 70 to lie four back.
Three weeks ago, the 30-year-old Lee successfully defended his AT&T Byron Nelson title in Dallas and his return to winning form has him yearning for more success at the Memorial Tournament, hosted by legend Jack Nicklaus.
