• St Jude Classic, Round Two

Westwood claims share of the lead in Memphis

Lee Westwood is in good shape going into the weekend despite failing to hit the heights of his first-round 63 © Getty Images

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World No. 3 Lee Westwood holds a share of the halfway lead at the St Jude Classic in Memphis after carding a second-round 68.

The Englishman failed to hit the heights of his seven-under-par first-round 63 but showed plenty of fight as he overcame two dropped shots at the eighth and the 14th with four birdies to move onto nine-under for the tournament.

Westwood is joined on at the top of the leaderboard by Garrett Willis, who produced a run of three birdies in his final four holes to complete a second round of 65. The American, who finished in a tie for 13th at the Valero Texas Open, will feel he left shots on the course after missing a number of short putts for birdie.

Charley Hoffman sits one shot behind the leading pair after signing for a second-round 65. The 33-year-old picked up five birdies after bogeying the fifth and will fancy his chances over the weekend at a course where he has a history of good finishes.

Sweden's Robert Karlsson looked to be approaching some good form ahead of next week's US Open at Pebble Beach. The 2008 European Tour Order of Merit winner recovered from a bogey at the seventh by posting five birdies in a round of 66.

Rory McIlroy also turned in a 66 as he moved on to five-under and a share of 10th place. The 21-year-old looked in full control of his game as he carded four birdies and will be hopeful of a strong showing over the weekend.

"It doesn't matter what course you're playing," McIlroy said. "If you're hitting good shots, you're hitting good shots.

"It's a really good test here bearing in mind the US Open is next week. It definitely tests all aspects of your game."

Padraig Harrington endured a miserable day as he followed up his first-round 65 with a four-over-par second round of 74. The Irishman never got going on the greens and looked rusty with the wedge as he mixed two birdies with two bogeys and two double bogeys.

Colombia's Camilo Villegas narrowly avoided missing the cut for the second time in his last three starts as he holed birdies at 14, 15, 16 and 18 to reach two-under-par.

Ian Poulter did not enjoy the same fortune as he slipped below the cut mark with his second consecutive round of 72 to finish on four-over-par. Fellow Englishman Greg Owen also missed the cut as he followed up a promising first-round 69 with a disastrous six-over-par second-round 76.

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