Haas ahead as Woods and McIroy toil at Memorial

Haas started the day in a tie for seventh with Matt Kuchar and he returned to the Dublin course in red-hot form.

An eagle and two birdies on the front nine was followed by three more birdies and just one bogey until the final hole when he dropped a shot to shoot a 68 and move to nine under overall.

Kuchar also bogeyed his final hole to finish with a two-under-par 70, three shots behind his fellow American.

Overnight leader Charl Schwartzel had only just started his round and had dropped a shot at the fourth.

World No 1 Tiger Woods had a miserable start to the day after a decidedly average 71 on Thursday. The five-time tournament winner hit a double bogey and a bogey and with the projected cut at two over, Woods’ non-appearance over the final two rounds became a real prospect. Two birdies gave him some breathing space but a bogey at the last saw him finish with a two-over-par 74.

Rory McIlroy – who produced a woeful first round of 78 – had picked up a shot but he still needed another three to make the cut.