4 Jun 2016

Lee drops down the leaderboard

10:55 am on 4 June 2016

The New Zealand golfer Danny Lee has dropped down the leaderboard after a disappointing second round at the Memorial in Ohio.

Danny Lee is enjoying a breakout season on the PGA Tour

Danny Lee is enjoying a breakout season on the PGA Tour Photo: Photosport

Tied for third after the opening round, Lee fired a three over par 75. His round included two double bogeys.

He's now tied for 53rd, nine shots off the lead held by Americans Matt Kuchar and Brendan Steele.

Lee had opened the tournament with a six under par 66.

Former champion Matt Kuchar continued his love affair with the Memorial tournament as he took advantage of calm conditions with a late birdie flurry to surge to the top of the board.

Kuchar birdied four of his last six holes to shoot a sparkling six-under-par 66 at Muirfield Village, finishing level with Steele at 12-under 132.

Argentina's Emiliano Grillo and long-hitting American Gary Woodland were at 11-under while Australian world number one Jason Day followed his opening 66 with an erratic 71 to drop five strokes off the pace.

Kuchar, who won the 2013 Memorial tournament and has recorded four top-10s in his last five PGA Tour starts, was delighted to benefit from another benign day at Muirfield Village in the prestigious event hosted by Jack Nicklaus.

"I've been in some great form," the 37-year-old told reporters after mixing seven birdies with a lone bogey. "The last three weeks, all good solid finishes. Nice to keep it going.

"The course is in fantastic shape ... it's as easy at this place as I remember ever seeing it, even though the greens are still fast.

"You can get in the wrong spot, but you don't have to worry too much about the wind. It's fun to be out there playing and making some birdies around this place."