The world’s top two players Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy struggled in their second round at the Memorial Tournament and sit eight shots behind leader JT Poston.

World number one Scheffler, who is aiming to win the tournament for a third straight year, bogeyed holes eight, nine and 10 before three birdies on the back nine saw him salvage a level-par 72 to leave him at one over following his opening-round 73.

“I felt like I was going to shoot about 90 today,” said the American four-time major winner.

“That’s maybe some of the worst I’ve hit it in a couple years out there and I still managed to shoot even par around a golf course that requires you to strike the ball really well,” added the 29-year-old.

Meanwhile, Northern Ireland’s McIlroy, 37, carded a two-over par 74 at Muirfield Village Golf Club which included a double-bogey, two bogeys and a birdie in his last six holes.

This is only the third tournament the six-time major winner has played since winning the Masters in April and it is his only warm-up event before this month’s US Open at Shinnecock Hills.

World number 94 Poston shot a seven-under-par 65 to lead on nine under, a shot ahead of fellow American Ryan Gerard.

Poston, 33, has three PGA Tour wins and his last came in 2024.

England’s Tommy Fleetwood is in fourth place, five shots off the lead, while compatriot and PGA Championship winner Aaron Rai is on one under.