Rory McIlroy produced a full golf bag of emotions first in pulling off a miracle shot to then being ‘pissed off’ in dropping four shots before some joy with two closing birdies on day two of the PGA Championship.
The three-time Major winner signed for a one-over par 72 for a two-over tally and end his round ahead of afternoon storms.
McIlroy was in the clubhouse trailing 10 shots adrift of American Kevin Kisner who posted a second straight 67 to enjoy a five-stroke lead over compatriot Rickie Fowler, who carded a 70 for a three-under tally.
McIlroy kick-started his round from the 10th and immediately displaying his brilliance and imagination but only sending his second shot way right onto a cart path and leaving stand-in caddy, Harry Diamond second-guessing the distance to the green.
After a ‘free’ drop McIlroy had to thread his third down a near 100-yard tree-lined cart path before pulling off a brilliant punched 6-iron to find the edge of the green on route to a remarkable par.
“I didn’t expect it to be there and I was a little bit unlucky to get it going down the cart path as it was really the only option I had,” he said smiling.
“I dropped it in a pretty bad lie, so I couldn’t carry it over the cart path so I hit a 6-iron and thinking that I’ll bounce it up the cart path and see where this goes. Luckily it got out of the bunker and on to the other side.
“That could have been a six or a seven quite easily. So, to actually get away with a five, I actually felt pretty good about myself going to the next tee.”
McIroy’s par was the first of five in succession ahead of his first birdie of the round at the par five 15th where he split the fairway with a booming 327-yard drive but then finding a greenside bunker with his second and managing to get up-and-down from 35-feet.
He followed with three pars but McIlroy then found himself on the bogey train for four of five holes from his 11th in dropping shots also at his 12th and then his 14th and 15th holes.
McIlroy had been in right rough off the tee at the 11th, landing on a cart path way left at the next before finding a fairway bunker left at his 14th while at the next, the par three sixth or his 15th, McIlroy was 73-left of the green in taking a fourth bogey of his round.
Finally, McIlroy jumped from what was looking like a train wreck in holing a four-footer for birdie, and get back to three-over for the championship, at the par five seventh or the 16th of his round.
And McIlroy look proud as punch to walk off the next having sent a booming 321-yard drive down his 16th before pitching to three-feet for the third birdie of his day.
“I was a little pissed after the four bogeys so I just gathered my thoughts”, he said.
“I knew there was a couple of chances coming up. I said to Harry, “Let’s birdie two of the last three.” He said, “No, let’s birdie the last three.”
“I had a good chance at the last for birdie and didn’t quite convert.
“So, looking at the board obviously Kis (Kisner) is on fire right now. He’s 8-under par for the tournament.
“But take him out of the equation, I feel like I’m still right there in the tournament”.
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