Karlsson and McIlroy climb Memphis leaderboard

Robert Karlsson and Rory McIlroy made significant moves up the St Jude Classic leaderboard as overnight leader Lee Westwood struggled to repeat his opening-day good form in Memphis.

World number three Westwood, still looking for his first win in the United States since 1998, had shot a course-record 63 to lead the PGA Tour event on seven under par after round one on his first visit to TPC Southwind.

The Englishman, though, was not having things his own way today in the afternoon wave of starters, level par for his second round after 10 holes, with American Charley Hoffman atop the clubhouse leaderboard on eight under par after 36 holes following a 65.

One stroke behind Hoffman was Sweden’s Karlsson, a European Tour winner this year in Qatar having spent more than four months out last season with an eye problem. He followed his opening 67 with a four-under 66 and was delighted with his day’s work.

“I’m very, very happy with where I’m standing,” Karlsson said. “I took the last couple of weeks off, practised last week and came here to get going after practising, because it’s quite difficult if you work a bit on your swing and things like that to get into tournament mode again.

“That was the most important thing for my getting here. It’s beautiful golf course. It’s a good test. It’s great to be here.”

Karlsson claimed his victory in Qatar had given him a confidence boost following his enforced absence form the game.

“It was a great way to start out as well as I did. I was out for pretty much four and a half months last year and I didn’t play very well at all at the end of last year,” he added.

“And this year it’s been a bit up and down, but obviously fantastic to get the win and prove to myself that I can do it. So I’m very happy where I am, and things are good.”

American Robert Garrigus also shot a 66 to get to seven under, while former US Open champion Lee Janzen and former US PGA winner Shaun Micheel were others with four-under rounds at the par-70 TPC Southwind, in the clubhouse at halfway on six under alongside Tim Petrovic (68) and DJ Trahan (68).

McIlroy, the world number 10, was bogey free for the second day in a row but he improved by three shots on his opening 69 to get to five under.

Padraig Harrington, though, had a less successful day. The three-time major winner followed his opening 65 with a second-round 74 to slip down the leaderboard to one under par.

It was even worse for Ian Poulter. England’s world number five, who had been three under after the first nine holes of the tournament before slipping to a two-over 72, continued to struggle today as he shot another 72 to lie four over for the week, three shots the wrong side of the projected cut line.