Rory McIlroy insists he is still in the running to win back-to-back major titles after climbing a crowded leaderboard to enter PGA Championship contention.
The Masters champion rebounded from four bogeys with an opening-round 74 to shoot a bogey-free 67 Friday afternoon at Aronimink Golf Club, leaving him five strokes off the lead at halfway.
McIlroy recorded three birdies in tough scoring conditions to move to 1 over par for the tournament and continued his quest to hoist the Wanamaker Trophy for a third time as Alex Smalley and Maverick McNealy set the pace at 4 under par.
McIlroy played with Jordan Spieth and Jon Rahm (right), who was three strokes behind the lead.
World No. 2 McIlroy described his round to reporters as “not very good” a day after uttering a single expletive to sum up Thursday’s performance, and McIlroy was delighted with the opportunity to challenge for a seventh major title.
“It was difficult to make a birdie the last few days, not only because of the wind, but also because of where the holes were placed,” McIlroy told reporters after the second round. “I think they really tried to protect the course the first few days.
Use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
McIlroy had an interesting response to a reporter who asked him to compare his first two rounds of the PGA Championship.
“They seem to have run out of a lot of really solid pins. I think there are guys here for the weekend with a little calmer conditions and maybe a few more favorable hole positions. I think everyone should feel like they’ve got a chance.
“It’s complicated, but you run to a wedge on the front nine and hit four out of five under par and all of a sudden it happens. At five back, you feel like you’re in the right place for the tournament. That’s what I wanted to do today.”
Use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
McIlroy bounced back from contention at the PGA Championship with Alex Smalley and Maverick McNealy sharing the halfway lead.
The eight shots separating a four-over lead from the cut mark is the fewest in PGA Championship history, leaving McIlroy questioning whether he could have done more to provide more scoring opportunities.
“I think a bunch of leaderboards like this is a sign that it’s not a good setup,” McIlroy added. “I think when it comes together like this, no one can separate themselves.
Use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Due to the poor conditions at Aronimink, some players were struggling to qualify for the PGA Championship.
“It’s easy to make a lot of pars, but it’s hard to make a birdie. I’m not saying it’s hard to make a bogey, but a bogey feels like the worst score you can make on a hole. There aren’t a lot of hazards.
“I think the setting is good. The golf course is good, the pins are tough and the wind is as well. I always felt that a really good setting starts to widen the field a little bit and a good setting starts to bring everyone together. I think that’s what’s happened the last two days.”
Gusty winds and challenging pins created bottlenecks around the course during a slow Friday, and McIlroy was visibly frustrated after waiting a long time to tee off and approach the par-4 10th hole.
Use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
McIlroy was frustrated with slow play during the second round of the PGA Championship as his group waited to tee off on the 10th hole.
“It was slow,” McIlroy admitted. “I think (Tegalla’s lost ball) was something that definitely delayed us in the middle of that round. “There are a few small parts of the course where you can get a little stuck, but that’s OK.
“It always seems like the first two days of major championship golf. You get a tee time at Augusta on a Friday afternoon, and it’s one of the slowest rounds of the year. It’s Augusta, so it’s OK to go out there, but at the same time, it’s very, very slow.”
Who will win the PGA Championship? Watch live on Sky Sports seven days a week. Live coverage of the third round begins at 3pm on Saturday through Sky Sports Golf. Access or stream Sky Sports with no contract.
