Rory McIlroy ended the opening two rounds of the Shell Houston Open virtually crying out for two closing rounds in the sixties.
McIlroy struggled in the bright but windy conditions adding a 71 to his first day 70 and move to three-under par on the Houston Golf Club course in suburban Humble.
He trials eight shots behind Ryder Cup winning colleague Sergio Garcia who tamed the conditions with an impressive seven under par 65 and move four shots in front as the afternoon half of the field took to the course.
However American Matt Kuchar managed to tie Garcia with a birdie at 17 before dropping a shot a the last in a score of 67 to finish one behind at 11-under par.
Garcia is no stranger to winning in the Lone Star State having broken through to claim a maiden PGA Tour title at the 2001 Colonial in Fort Worth and then capturing the Byron Nelson Championship three years later in Irving.
But the 34-year old Spaniard continues to tread water among a pool of players with the tag – ‘Best Golfer Never To Win A Major’.
And not since Padraig Harrington disappointed Garcia for a second occasion in a Major at the 2008 PGA Championship has Garcia felt as good about his game heading to a Major.
“It’s difficult to say how good my golf is compared to the past, but I would say it’s the best it’s been since 2008 PGA,” he said.
“I felt really, really good there at Oakland Hills and I was close to winning.
“But while I felt good there, every week is different but then next week, first of all, and hopefully this week I am feeling really good and there is nothing bothering me health-wise, and then I just feel good on the golf course, and hopefully things may happen for me.”
McIlroy was headed to the range after some lunch working with the longest club in his bag after hitting just five of 14 Houston fairways in regulation.
“It wasn’t too bad out there but it I would love to string a few birdies together and get on a run of a couple of low rounds in the 60s that would be great for this tournament and great for me to take onto Augusta,” he said.
“I leaked a couple of drives out there today but my putting was a bit better today and I managed to hole a couple of big ones.
“So if asked to put a percentage figure on my game, I would say it’s currently 80 to 85%. I am playing nicely and I am confident with my game.
“But then Sergio’s round was very impressive and these windy conditions suit him down to the ground as he flights his shots really well.”
Bernie talks with Rory post his second round.
However with poor weather predicted for Sunday’s final round in Houston there is a possibility of the $US 6.2m event heading into a Monday finish and not for a first time since the tournament moved to the week prior to the Masters.
At this stage, McIlroy is planning to head to Georgia on Sunday night and to play nine holes each of the three official days of practice.
“If this event goes into a Monday it wouldn’t bother me and I wouldn’t mind,” said McIlroy.
“I was up at Augusta recently so I have all my work done, and then the weather forecast doesn’t look all that well for the first couple of days at Augusta either.
“So an extra day off wouldn’t bother me, at all.”
And Darren Clarke remained undecided whether to remain in Houston, head back to Palm Beach Gardens or arrive at Augusta National early after missing the cut with a pair of 75s.
In fact, Clarke spent a good deal of time on the practice putting well into the late afternoon with American Steve Stricker offering putting advice.
