Tommy Fleetwood and Rory McIlroy move three clear at Sawgrass

Some more excellent golf from Tommy Fleetwood and Rory McIlroy on Friday is threatening to turn the Players Championship into a two-horse race.
The British duo share a three-shot on 12 under lead after the second round at TPC Sawgrass, with Fleetwood posting rounds of 65 and 67 and McIlroy matching him with rounds of 67 and 65.
McIlroy can thank a late charge up the leaderboard which saw him go seven under par for his final 11 holes, which included an eagle on the par-five 16th and a birdie on the iconic par-three 17.
https://twitter.com/PGATOUR/status/1106690299336761344
“It was just another good day on the golf course. I did everything pretty much the way I wanted to,” said McIlroy, who is once again putting himself in a potentially winning position, as he has already done six times in 2019. “My attitude has been great all year.”
“I felt like I came back well,” he added in reference to the bogey that opened his second round. “Once I got a birdie on the eighth it started to snowball.”
Fleetwood, meanwhile, stayed the course courtesy of another great round which included five birdies, an eagle and two bogeys. The eagle came courtesy of a chip-in from the bunker at the par-5 second.
https://twitter.com/PGATOUR/status/1106616242901827585
Ian Poulter (66), Jim Furyk (64), Brian Harman (69) and Abraham Ancer (66) are tied for third three shots behind the leading duo.
Jason Day (66), Kevin Kisner (68) and recent first-time winner Keitch Mitchell (65) lie on eight under, four back.
Tiger Woods just made the cut after a one-under 71. His progress was seriously derailed by a quadruple bogey seven on the island-green 17th.
Woods first tee shot was long over the green and his next shot from the drop zone missed the target long as well.
Golf is hard.
Tiger Woods puts two in the water on No. 17. 💦 pic.twitter.com/xEqCMx04Z0
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 15, 2019
“I was pretty ticked, no doubt about that,” he said. “I was bound and determined to get it all back and get it back to five under.”
He rebounded on the back nine with a birdie on the par-five second hole and the par four seventh.
“I ended up getting back to three under,” Woods said. “It was a good fight to get it back to that point.”
Latest
-
News
On this day in 2008: Ryder Cup misery in Louisville for Nick Faldo’s Europe
Faldo was heavily criticised for his tactics in the closing singles.
-
Lucas Glover edges past Patrick Cantlay to claim back-to-back Tour wins
Glover, 43, ultimately claimed victory with a par on the 18th hole playoff after Cantlay found water off the tee.
-
Lilia Vu wins second major as Charley Hull comes up short despite stunning eagle
American Vu added the Women’s Open title to her Chevron Championship.
-
Lucas Glover holds onto lead in Memphis with Tommy Fleetwood two strokes behind
Glover said it was a scrappy day but he got ‘a lot out of’ what he had.
-
Charley Hull shares lead with Lilia Vu heading into final day of Women’s Open
The pair are nine under for the tournament.
-
On This Day in 2007 – Tiger Woods claims 13th major with victory in Oklahoma
The world number one successfully defended his US PGA Championship title.
-
Ally Ewing out to emulate Brian Harman with Open win
The pair share their southern roots, passion for hunting and college teams named the Bulldogs.
-
Ally Ewing storms clear during second round of AIG Women’s Open at Walton Heath
At 10 under par Ewing enjoyed a five-shot lead over compatriot Andrea Lee and Japan’s Minami Katsu.
-
Jordan Spieth leads by one after first round of FedEx St Jude Championship
England’s Tommy Fleetwood and Aaron Rai are the best of the British contingent, closing out Thursday on four under par.
-
Rory McIlroy delighted with Tiger Woods’ role on PGA Tour’s policy board
Woods, 47, has not played since withdrawing from April’s Masters and concedes his playing opportunities will be extremely limited going forward.