DUBLIN, Ohio: American Steve Stricker took control of the Memorial tournament in sensational style Friday, making an ace on his penultimate hole that put him two strokes clear before he signed off with a birdie. That gave the world No. 8 a five-under-par 67 in the second round at Muirfield Village Golf Club and a three-shot lead in the event hosted by Jack Nicklaus. Stricker struck a six-iron from 186 yards at the par-three eighth, his 17th hole, and watched as his ball bounced a couple of times on the green before rolling straight into the cup. He immediately raised both arms skywards in delight before being congratulated by his caddie Jimmy Johnson. Stricker, who had been two shots off the pace overnight, then rolled in a 15-foot birdie putt at the ninth to complete a sizzling back nine of six-under 30 for a nine-under total of 135. Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy (72), Australian Rod Pampling (66) and Americans Ricky Barnes (70) and Jonathan Byrd (67) were tied for second at six under. British world No. 1 Luke Donald (69) and Australian Aaron Baddeley (68) were among a group of six players bunched at five under. For much of a sweltering afternoon at Muirfield Village where thick rough, tough pin positions and shifting winds made scoring tricky, it seemed that six under would be the leading total by the end of the day. American world No. 4 Phil Mickelson carded a 70 to end the day seven strokes off the pace, one shot better than Masters champion Charl Schwartzel of South Africa (71). The cut fell at one-over 145 with defending champion Justin Rose of Britain and former major winners Jim Furyk, Lucas Glover and Trevor Immelman among those missing out. Noren retains lead Defending champion Graeme McDowell suffered a third round collapse at the Wales Open at Celtic Manor in the United Kingdom Saturday, crashing to an 81 to equal the worst ever round of his entire European Tour career. On the course where he emerged as Europe's Ryder Cup hero last October the world No. 5 slumped from one off the lead overnight to a yawning 11 strokes adrift with a three round total of 216. In stark contrast, Swede Alex Noren, the overnight leader, added a 71 to his rounds of 67 and 67 to give him an eight under par total of 205, one shot clear of compatriot Peter Hanson and Dane Anders Hansen. McDowell's previous worst rounds on the European circuit were 81s at Valderrama in 2002 — his rookie season — and at Pinehurst in the 2005 US Open. He was by no means the only one to suffer in windy conditions — Darren Clarke shot 80, Thomas Levet and Stuart Manley 81, Paul Broadhurst and Jason Knutzon 84. Frenchman Gregory Havret pulled out of the event following the death of his father.
