Karlsson extends advantage

Robert Karlsson got off to a fast start to extend his lead at the FedEx St Jude Classic in Memphis.

Birdies on the third, fourth and sixth holes pushed Karlsson’s advantage to four shots at the top of the leaderboard as he moved to 12 under par for the tournament.

The Swede’s closest challengers overnight, Colt Knost and Keegan Bradley, had poor starts, both bogeying the first, to fall away, meaning it was John Merrick who had risen to second place after opening his round with three straight birdies.

Kris Blanks suffered an early bogey, but had recovered by the turn with birdies on the third, fourth and ninth which were good for a share of third place with Harrison Frazar at five under for the tournament, albeit seven shots adrift of the lead.

World number two Lee Westwood was continuing to struggle, with a birdie on the third wiped out by back-to-back bogeys on the fifth and sixth, leaving him at even par for the tournament and in an 11-way tie for 35th place.