Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark watches her fiancee Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland (not pictured) play a shot during the second round of the Honda Classic at PGA National Resort and Spa in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, yesterday.
PALM BEACH GARDENS, United States: A strong finish helped Rory McIlroy grab a one-stroke lead over Brendon de Jonge after yesterday’s second round of the Honda Classic while top-ranked Tiger Woods barely made the cut.
McIlroy held his nerve after two early bogeys to finish with a flourish, firing a four-under par 66 that left the 24-year-old world number eight from Northern Ireland on 11-under 129 through 36 holes at the $6m US PGA event.
“I had to stay patient. I didn’t get off to the best start,” McIlroy said. “Got it back to even par at the turn and played really well coming in. Once I found my rhythm and got into it I played really nicely and putted very well.”
Zimbabwe’s De Jonge fired a 64 but a closing bogey kept him from a share of the lead at the $6m event. American Russell Henley was third on 132 with England’s Lee Westwood and Scotsman Russell Knox another shot back.
Woods, a 14-time major champion, fired a 69 to stand on par 140, making the cut on the number after snapping a streak of five rounds at par or worse at PGA National.
“It was a grind, no doubt about that,” Woods said. “I didn’t hit it very good. It was just one of those days but I fought through it.
“I would like to hit it better than I have been. I didn’t hit it good today. But I fought out a number, which is always a good thing.
“Maybe I can go post a number tomorrow.”
McIlroy teed off on the back nine and found the right rough off the 11th tee and went over the 12th green on his way to bogeys.
But McIlroy made a five-foot birdie putt at the 16th and a 12-foot birdie putt at the par-5 18th.
“It was a sign of maturity,” McIlroy said. “I didn’t panic. I didn’t try to do anything differently. I tried to keep doing everything that I had been doing.”
On his second nine, McIlroy ran off three birdies in a row starting at the par-5 third, where he left a 53-foot eagle putt inches short for a tap-in birdie.
McIlroy made a 30-foot birdie putt at the par-3 fifth and a 27-footer for birdie at the par-3 seventh, his third and fourth successful putts this week of longer than 25 feet.
McIlroy, a two-time major champion, won the event in 2012 to become a world number one for the first time in his career, but last year walked off the course complaining of toothache and mental fatigue. So far, he has reclaimed prime form.
“One of the goals this year for me was consistency,” McIlroy said. “It’s quite emotionally draining when you have all these highs and lows.” AFP
