Curtis Shares Memorial Lead

Ben Curtis hasn’t taken the claret jug on a world tour since winning the British Open, but he decided to bring it with him to the Memorial Tournament in Dublin, Ohio, for a little motivation. So far, it appears to be working.

Curtis birdied the 18th hole, giving him a three-under-par 69 Friday and a share of the lead with Justin Rose and Stephen Ames.

“Looking at that thing gives you goosebumps,” Curtis said of the claret jug, which he won last year at Royal St. George’s.

He navigated Muirfield Village without a bogey for the second day in a row for a two-round total of seven-under 137. Tiger Woods gave himself a chance for a fourth title at the Memorial. Despite a double bogey on the par-three 12th, he shot 68 and was three shots off the lead.

Jack Nicklaus, the 64-year-old tournament host, was robbed of an ace on No. 12 but still managed a one-over 73 and made the cut.

“That’s a pretty decent round of golf for an old man,” Nicklaus said.

His tee shot on the 12th hole hit the bottom of the cup and bounced into the fringe.

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Tina Barrett had an eagle on the second hole and birdie on her final hole, helping her finish with a six-under 66 at the Kellogg-Keebler Classic in Aurora, Ill., for a one-shot lead over a bunched field heading into the weekend.

Barrett played a bogey-free round to lead five players at five under: Nancy Scranton, Liselotte Neumann, Jessica Reese, Cristie Kerr and Catherine Cartwright.

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Sammy Rachels birdied five of the last seven holes for an eight-under 64 and a one-shot lead after the opening round of the Farmers Charity Classic in Ada Township, Mich.

Champions Tour rookie Sam Torrance was second after a 65.

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John Daly has decided not to play in a qualifying event for the U.S. Open and instead will take next week off. Daly, who won the Buick International in February, has not qualified for the June 17-20 tournament at Shinnecock Hills.