World No. 1 Rory McIlroy bluntly confessed he was ‘pissed off’ in the disappointment of being assured of missing the halfway cut in the rain-interrupted Honda Classic at Palm Beach Gardens.
McIlroy’s love-hate relationship with the $US 6.1m event continued with the four-time Major winner posting scores of 73 and 74 for a shock seven over par tally and crashing out of the event for a second time in three years.
It is the first time McIlroy has missed a halfway cut in 13 events since posting rounds of 74 and 69 to the shock of Fota Island fans at last year’s Irish Open.
Rory McIlroy losing a grip on his game and on route to missing the cut in the 2015 Honda Classic. (Photo – Fran Caffrey/www.golffile.ie)
Ironically, it’s also only the second time he’s not played all four stroke play rounds in the States since walking off after eight holes of his second round in the 2013 Honda Classic, and at that time having slumped to seven over par.
“I’m pissed off because it’s not been since last year’s Irish Open I’ve missed a cut and I don’t like missing cuts,” he said.
“You want to be playing on the weekend and not to be playing this weekend is disappointing.”
However McIlroy’s cause wasn’t helped by three separate rain delays early on day two that resulted in a combined loss of three hours and 44 minutes.
McIlroy was in an 11th hole fairway bunker, or the second hole of his round, and 149-yards from the flag when play was first halted.
He resumed to take bogey before seven straight pars ahead of finding water down the 18th or his ninth hole for a second bogey of his round.
McIlroy posted his only birdie at his 14th hole but ended with bogeys on 15, 16 and the last.
And soon after his round McIlroy was observed with his hands over his head chatting with long-time coach, Michael Bannon and revealing the pair will spend the weekend, weather permitting, on the practice range at the nearby Bear’s Club before heading the some 70-minute drive south to Miami and next week’s WGC – Cadillac Championship.
Rory McIlroy in conversation with long-time coach, Michael Bannon after the assurance of missing the cut in the 2015 Honda Classic. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)
“I just didn’t feel like I controlled my ball flight well in the wind that you need to do and that wasn’t something that I did particularly well,” he said.
“And in the three weeks since winning in Dubai I haven’t practiced in many cross winds, so Michael and I will spend time working on my game over the weekend, and if the forecast allows us.
“But really all I will do now if just forget about what happened this week and move on to Miami.”
And McIlroy stated he will not react to missing the Honda Classic cut by adding an event ahead of the Masters and will stick to his schedule of competing next week in Miami along with a first appearance in Arnold Palmer’s event.
“I’m not really thinking of Augusta as I’m thinking of next week and just trying to play four solid rounds,” he said.
“The good thing about next week is we do have four rounds with no cut so I can get into some sort of rhythm.
“Hopefully down in Miami we will not have to contend with conditions like they were this week, and you know, I’ll go there and ‑‑ because it has been really good on the range the last couple weeks and it’s been good in practice.
“It just wasn’t so good over the last couple days and I guess after coming off a three‑week break, I just felt a little, I wouldn’t say rusty, but just not quite on top of my game yesterday”
The rain delays meant both Padraig Harrington and Graeme McDowell, who were in the second half of the draw, will not complete their second rounds to this morning (SAT) US time.
American Ryder Cup star Patrick Reed posted a 67 to enjoy the clubhouse lead at six under par with England’s Luke Donald, and also shooting a 67, in second place at four under.
