• St Jude Classic, Round Two

Lacklustre Westwood losing grip on Memphis crown

Lee Westwood has lacked rhythm in Memphis © Getty Images

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Lee Westwood's hold on the St Jude Classic title has all but evaporated after he posted a disappointing score for a second consecutive day to fall eight shots off the lead.

Westwood, who won the event in a play-off last year, produced a hugely contrasting round of golf to his opening 18 holes, but he finished with a similar result, signing for a level-par 70 to go with his 69 from the previous day. The world No. 2 enters the weekend on one-under, facing a yawning gap to current leader Robert Karlsson.

A run of 13 pars in 14 holes marked Westwood's opening round, but this time he was far more erratic, double-bogeying the 12th, birdying the 14th, bogeying the 15th before finding another birdie on the 16th. His driving accuracy had improved after an appalling display off the tee in round one, but Westwood still has plenty to work on ahead of next week's US Open.

Karlsson is on course to erase the agonising memories of 12 months ago, when he was beaten by Westwood in the play-off, following a brilliant round of 65. The Swede had entered the day one stroke off the pace, but he heads into the weekend with a three-shot advantage.

Having now completed 36 holes for only two bogeys, Karlsson's iron work was exemplary on Friday. He was actually shorter off the tee, but made over 70 per cent of greens in regulation to heap pressure on his rivals.

His closest challengers are Colt Knost and Keegan Bradley, who are both three back on six-under. Overnight leader David Mathis fell off the pace with a two-over 72 to drop back to three-under.

Elsewhere, Padraig Harrington's round broke down along the front nine, where three bogeys in five holes left him with too much ground to make up. The major flaw in Harrington's game was obvious as he found 20 per cent of fairways to card a two-over 72, leaving him marginally above the cut line.

And there were improved fortunes for Sergio Garcia, who responded to his opening effort of 78 by signing for a more respectable 69. The Spaniard's recovery was still not enough to extend his challenge into the weekend.

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