After a roller coaster four over front nine, Graeme McDowell stormed home in five under to ensure two more competitive rounds in Memphis before heading north to the U.S Open outside of Milwaukee.
McDowell posted a second straight one-under par 69 to sit in a tie for 34th in very hot conditions on the TPC Southwind course.
It left McDowell trailing only seven shots adrift of the leading duo of American Chez Reavie (65) and Columbian Sebastian Munoz (67), who head the $US 6.4m event on nine-under par.
McDowell’s round was for a second day a real serving of a pizza with all the toppings.
He started from the back nine in posting scores of bogey, birdie, double bogey and bogey to be really struggling at three-over for the round.
Then after collecting a birdie at his seventh or the 16th of the course in holing a 20-footer for his second birdie of the day.
But McDowell then gave two shots back at his eighth and ninth holes to make the turn in three-over.
However, McDowell stormed to the clubhouse thanks to a wet sail with just a 14th hole bogey sandwiched either side of six birdies.
And there was none better than at the ninth or his 18th, and where a day earlier McDowell had taken a double bogey,
On this occasion, G Mac found the left edge of the fairway and then stuck his second to some 30-foot from the flag and knocked in the birdie.
“Once again, it was a nice way to finish as I holed a 16-footer for birdie on my last yesterday”, he said.
“It is just good for the overall psyche to walk off the last with a birdie and while ever shot has equal value to birdie your final hole adds to making you leave the course feeling a little better.
“As for the round, it did have a bit of everything and the pleasing thing was that there were eight birdies on my card.
“And that is down to some good putting as I had just 27 putts today and just one more than my first round.
“So, I have got the putter working really well and just now need to get the driver sorted out as I am struggling a bit off the tee.
“The good thing also this golf course has dried out remarkably well and depending what the guys out this afternoon, I am right in this event.
“So, I will be looking for a fast start tomorrow and get myself right in the picture come Sunday”.
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