Robert Karlsson leading the FedEx St.Jude Classic after second round on PGA Tour
Robert Karlsson, the runner-up from the second round, moved ahead of the field to grab the second round lead at the FedEx St. Jude Classic at the sweltering TPC Southwind in Memphis. Karlsson shot six birdies and dropped just one shot at par-3, eighth to
move three shots ahead of the field.
Starting from back nine, he pulled in four birdies and remained bogey free before making the turn. He opened his front nine with another birdie but stumbled with a bogey before closing the round with an aggregate of nine-under. Karlsson was contending for
the second spot yesterday but with Mathis dropping down the leaderboard with his sloppy 72, Karlsson snatched the lead with considerable ease.
“I like this golf course and I played quite well over two days, and I scored well and I just like this place,” Karlsson said. “I don’t know what to say more.”
Karlsson’s fondness for the course can also be judged by the mere fact that the sturdy player ended up in a four-hole Playoff last year, but had to settle for runners up slot after Lee Westwood’s second PGA Tour victory.
“It's actually a bonus that I did well here last year,” said Karlsson. “But this year is a new year, and even now most likely going to be in the lead after two days makes no difference. We've come halfway, and who knows. I might finish 55th. You never know.
You've got to keep going, especially on punishing golf courses like this.”
HP Byron Nelson champion, Keegan Bradley also emerged as a formidable foe for the rest of the field when he closed his round of 67, moving into contention for the second place with Colt Knost. Bradley is seeking a slot in the upcoming US Open scheduled next
week.
American John Merrick settled for an outright fourth with his second round score of 69, one shot behind Bradley. Swede Frederick Jacobson and American Harrison Frazer were further down the lead sharing the fifth spot, a staggering five shots behind the lead.
Sergio Garcia with his seven-over and David Toms with five-over, had to drop their bid for the top slot as they failed to make the cut placed at two-over.
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