Rory Sabbatini leads Louis Oosthuizen and Branden Grace into the final 36 holes at the Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Village.

Sabbatini was seven shots better than his opening effort as he moved up 37 places to T24 – the same mark as Louis Oosthuizen through the first two rounds in the star-filled tournament at Jack Nicklaus’ home course.

The less-fancied Sabbatini’s 66 included seven birdies – five on the front side – and just one drop as he secured a pay cheque for his efforts.

Oosthuizen joined the group containing Sabbatini at -5 after hitting 12 of 18 greens in regulation during his second round. His day was set up by two superb shots, the first a 201-yard tee shot at the par-three 4th which left him 10 foot for birdie and then his third into the 5th which left him just 17 inches for his second gain of the day.

Branden Grace is one behind the duo but was left to rue a double bogey on the 14th after finding trouble in the greenside bunker. That double was offset by three birdies as he signed for a one-under 71 after Thursday’s 69.

Charl Schwartzel, who improved on his opening round of 77 by shooting 69 on Friday, and Ernie Els (75-74) missed the cut.

Memorial Tournament leaderboard:

133 – Kyle Stanley 67-66, Joaquin Niemann (CHI) 65-68

135 – An Byeong-Hun (KOR) 68-67

136 – Wesley Bryan 68-68, Jason Day (AUS) 68-68, JB Holmes 70-66, Hideki Matsuyama (JPN) 65-71, Bryson DeChambeau 69-67

137 – Beau Hossler 66-71, Henrik Stenson (SWE) 71-66, Gary Woodland 69-68, Justin Rose (ENG) 71-66, Patrick Cantlay 68-69

138 – Ryan Armour 68-70, Kim Si-Woo (KOR) 71-67, Dustin Johnson 72-66, Bubba Watson 71-67, Keegan Bradley 68-70, Julian Suri 71-67, Martin Laird (SCO) 72-66, Tom Hoge 71-67, Luke List 71-67, Adam Scott (AUS) 72-66