World No. 1 Rory McIlroy brushed off any lingering four-time Major winning hangover shooting a sizzling 65 on day two of the Barclays Championship in New Jersey.
Sporting a new-style Nike cap McIlrory muscled his way from a share of 102nd place and near the tail in the 125-player field and into a 27th place with a six under par effort to be just five shots from the lead with two rounds to play in the $8m Play-Off Series event.
“I feel like my game is in good shape, and compared to Thursday’s 74 when I hadn’t hit any balls last week, so this 65 is me right back to where I now expect to be and that’s more towards the pointed end of a tournament,” he said.
“I also was asked yesterday after I played, if I’m going to battle to make the cut or whatever. I said missing the cut isn’t an option.
Rory McIlroy shakes off any lingering hangover in winning three events in succession with Barclays Championship second round of 65.
“I know how well I am playing and how comfortable I am with my game, so even to miss a cut feeling like that would have felt really bad.”
And when asked if McIlroy, now that he is a four-time Major winner, expects himself to be near the lead in any tournament, he responded: “I do. I expect if I execute my shots and stick to my plan and do what I can, there’s low numbers in me, and hopefully that means that I will be at the right end of the leader board.
“It’s a very bunched leader board. I’m still five shots behind but there’s a lot of players between me and the leaders.
“So with the way I have been playing of late I’m now excited heading into the weekend.”
Australia’s and defending Barclays champion Adam Scott, also with a 65, shares the lead on eight under par with American Cameron Tringale (68).
Rory McIlroy shows his anguish in missing a putt on route to a second round 65.
However the England pair of Luke Donald and Ian Poulter will now have to rely on a Gleneagles ‘wildcard’ pick after both players missed the cut in their final European Team qualifying event.
In contrast, Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell, and who is lying on the bubble in ninth place on the qualifying table, shot a 68 to move to a share of 16th and keep alive his hope of avoiding a pick.
McDowell’s biggest fear is the current 11th placed Stephen Gallacher capturing the Czech Open that would see the Scot knock McDowell out of the top-nine.
