Mentally battered by shifting winds and challenging wet conditions, defending champion Steve Stricker ended a gruelling day at the Memorial tournament with a three-birdie flourish yesterday.

The American world No.10, who had to contend with a rain delay of just under two hours early in the second round, before he birdied the seventh, eighth and ninth for a two-under-par 70 in the event hosted by Jack Nicklaus.

Having flirted with the projected cut line for much of a marathon day at an overcast Muirfield Village, Stricker signed off in style by sinking a 35-footer on the ninth green to post a one-under total of 143.

"I made some nice putts coming in, something I haven't been doing for a while, and got myself right back in there," said Stricker. "I don't think anybody is really going to run away with it today. I hung in there and made three good birdies to finish the round."

Tiger Woods, meanwhile, joined clubhouse leaders Scott Stallings and Spencer Levin at the head of the leaderboard on five under after a strong start yesterday. Woods was three under for his first seven holes opening with a birdie and then hitting his tee shot at the par-3 fourth to just over four feet and rolling in the putt.

He picked up his third shot of the day at the sixth but could only par the par-5s either side of that.

Stallings had led after an opening 66 yesterday at Muirfield Village but carded a one-over-par 73 yesterday, joining Levin on five under after the latter went round in level par.

Levin balanced out three birdies and three bogeys while Stallings bogeyed four of his first seven holes from the 10th, rescuing his round with birdies at 11 and 12 and two more thereafter before dropping another shot at the eighth.

Aaron Baddeley birdied the first and fifth to also reach five under for the tournament, leaving Daniel Summerhays one his own one shot back after a 71 marred only by a double-bogey 6 at the 17th hole, his eighth.

Troy Matteson (69) and Jonathan Byrd (70) were in the clubhouse at three under, joined by Rory Sabbatini after five holes, while Henrik Stenson and Lucas Glover carded 68s, the low rounds of the day so far, to reach two under.

Luke Donald was two under after putting an early bogey behind him with back-to-back birdies at seven and eight, Justin Rose finished his round on one over and Rory McIlroy joined him on that score after two bogeys in his opening eight holes.

Early estimates put the likely cut at three over, meaning work to do for Jason Day and Camilo Villegas, who were on that score in the early stages of their rounds, and US Ryder Cup captain Davis Love III at four over. Masters champion Bubba Watson looked to be on his way home having finished five over.