Day, a resident of nearby Columbus, Ohio, moved up the board on a dramatic second day of the Jack Nicklaus-hosted tournament, with Tiger Woods also mounting a charge.

The Queenslander fired a second straight four-under-par 68 to climb to eight under, equalling his best 36-hole score at Memorial to sit just three shots off the pace.

Former amateur World No.1 Joaquin Niemann (68), from Chile, and American Kyle Stanley (66) top the leaderboard at 11 under, while South Korean Byeong Hun An (67) sits outright third two shots back.

Day, whose nine previous appearances at Memorial yielded just one top-25 finish, says his poor results have irritated him.

"Yes, it annoys me," Day, a Muirfield Village member, said.

"This is my home course and I have sucked on it for a long time.

"It frustrates me because I want to play well in front of my family and friends who come out to watch."

RIGHT: Day and caddie, Rika Batibasaga, confer during the second round. PHOTO: Getty Images.

But with two US Tour wins and a runner-up already in 2018, the 30-year-old is confident this edition will be his best.

"Hopefully I can change that because I feel different this year; my short game's where it needs to be and that has shown over the last two days," Day said.

"I've had two wins this year, so I'm not searching. I'm here to win."

Meanwhile, Tiger Woods ignited the large galleries when the five-time Memorial champion made a big charge up the leaderboard, highlighted by a hole-out eagle with a wedge from 95 yards at the par-5 11th.

Tiger Woods has played his way back into the tournament with a second round 67. PHOTO: Getty Images.

Woods raced out to six-under the card but an uncharacteristic series of missed short putts, and a late bogey left him with a 67 and he sits at five under.

Adam Scott was next best of the Australians, with a 66 lifting him to a share of 14th at six under.

Needing a high finish to give his US Open qualification hopes life, Scott went lights out on the back nine with four birdies and an eagle.

Scott's fellow Queenslander John Senden posted a 69 to move to two under, while Rod Pampling (70) was one under and Marc Leishman (70) made the even-par cut on the number.

Cam Davis (74, two over) and Cameron Smith (72, three over) were sent home early.