McIlroy plummets in Ohio

A disastrous six-over-par 78 saw Rory McIlroy tumble down the leaderboard on day two of the Memorial Tournament.
The Northern Irishman grabbed a three-shot first-round lead on Thursday courtesy of a superb 63, but looked a completely different player on Friday.
Most of the damage was done on the opening nine, where he bogeyed his opening hole, the par-four 10th, before parring 11 and picking the shot back up on 12.
But that would be as good as it got for McIlroy, who subsequently double-bogeyed the 13th, 14th and 15th and added another dropped shot at the 18th to suddenly find himself four shots off the lead at the turn.
That represented a 12-shot collapse on the back nine from Thursday where he had picked up two eagles, three birdies and a double bogey to record a 31.
He managed to play the back nine in a more respectable one under par, but the damage was already done and McIlroy will start the third round nine shots off Paul Casey’s lead.
“I missed fairways, that was a big thing, I didn’t realise how thick the rough was until I got into it today,” McIlroy said.
“Obviously that three-hole stretch, 13, 14, 15, didn’t help. Take those three holes out of it and it wouldn’t actually have been that bad a day.
“It’s not disastrous even though I had such a bad day.”
There were fears a left knee problem that seemed to trouble him on Thursday took its toll on Friday, but McIlroy said it wasn’t the reason for his poor round.
“The knee’s OK. It was a little bit sore this morning on the range but out on the course it was fine, the painkillers kicked in. I felt it a little bit but it didn’t really bother me too much.”
Latest
-
News
Westwood, McDowell back petition to allow English golf courses to open
The duo have added their names to a petition that has passed 100 000 signatures.
-
News
Xander Schauffele pledges to ‘fake it until I make it’ after contracting Covid
Schauffele is one of 16 players in the Sentry Tournament of Champions who failed to win an official event last season.
-
News
After years with TaylorMade, Jon Rahm joins Callaway
Spaniard will have Callaway woods and irons in his bag at Sentry Tournament of Champions.
-
News
What to expect from the 2021 OMEGA Dubai Desert Classic
There are more prestigious events on the European Tour, but there’s no denying that the Dubai Desert Classic just has something about it.
-
News
Organisers delay ticketing process for 2021 Masters as another fan shutout looms
Augusta National Golf Club is considering its options before making a call on 2021 Masters.
-
News
Tiger Woods’ former swing coach: I think I over-coached him
Sean Foley reckons he didn’t give Tiger the help he really needed.
-
News
Greg Norman returns home from hospital to await coronavirus test results
The 65-year-old spent Christmas Day in hospital after experiencing symptoms.
-
News
Greg Norman in hospital with coronavirus
The 65-year-old shared a photo of himself in a hospital bed on Christmas Day.
-
News
Lee Westwood sees age as no barrier to his golfing aspirations
Westwood, at the age of 47, has been crowned European Tour’s Golfer of the Year for 2020.
-
News
Tiger Woods and son Charlie finish seventh in PNC Championship
Tiger said it was “incredibly special” to spend quality time with his son on the golf course.