Day two digest: 2021 WGC-FedEx St Jude Invitational

Everything you need to know from day two in Memphis.

Harris held firm, Cam putted the lights out, Poults wanted to be a pal to Paddy and Abraham enjoyed a milestone in round two of the 2021 WGC-FedEx Invitational.

Here is everything you need to know from Friday at TPC Southwind.

English maintains Memphis momentum

Harris English continued to be a picture of consistency as he carded a second round 65 to maintain his two shot lead at 13 under. The American has two wins this season on the US PGA Tour and one over this layout in 2013 and if days one and two are anything to go by, he is going to take some catching as he looks for a first World Golf Championships title. "I've been playing really solid," he said. "When I miss the greens, I feel like my short game's been on point and I feel like I'm putting it well. Made some good saves for par, good birdie putts. Everything is clicking right now so I feel like my strategy has been working off the tee - a lot of right to left holes on the three wood, left to right holes I feel I can hit my fade with the driver and it's been working out."

18 holes - 18 putts

Yes, you read that right. Cameron Smith carded a 62 to get within two of the lead, recording just 18 putts along the way. He made four two putts, ten one putts and four zero putts including a holed bunker shot and a brilliant chip-in. "I was actually hitting really nice golf shots as well that ended up just going off the green and made a few of them," he said. "And I had a chip-in there for par on four, which kept the round going. I was seeing the putts really good today. The greens are so good around here, if you get the ball started on line and you've hit a good putt, most of the time they're going in. Really just a good day on the greens, I guess." You can say that again, Cameron.

That's what friends are for..........

In one way or another, either Padraig Harrington or Ian Poulter (and usually both) have been involved in every European Ryder Cup team since 1999. So with Harrington the skipper for this year's contest, Poulter is eager to continue that run - and he does not want to use up one of the captain's picks. "I just want to help Paddy out, I want to make that team, I really want to be a part of this Ryder Cup team," he said. "He's got three picks. I would love not to be a pick and obviously right now it's in my hands and I would like to somehow take it out of his hands and obviously play my way in the team." Poults is just three off the lead.

AA brings his A game

In his 24th European Tour event, Abraham Ancer carded his lowest round on Friday. The Mexican recorded a bogey free 62 to sit just two shots off the lead. "That's always my goal, to be bogey free when I tee it up," he said. "Makes me kind of simplify every hole and just get me hitting greens is the biggest goal, then from there I just focus obviously on my putting. Happy that I got a round like that under my belt here. This is a very demanding golf course off the tee and also with iron play. I know it wasn't playing as tough as it could be just because it was a little softer and not very windy but still you have to hit your spots, for sure."

Phil being Phil

Phil Mickelson - never ever change.