McIlroy Turns Bay Hill Lead Into Second Day ‘Grind’ & Two Back Of Hatton

6 years ago by Comments Off on McIlroy Turns Bay Hill Lead Into Second Day ‘Grind’ & Two Back Of Hatton

Orlando, FL …

World No. 1 Rory McIlroy turned the chance to distance himself from his rivals into a ‘grind’ and fall two shots behind on day two of the Arnold Palmer Invitational in Orlando.

McIlroy, who was one off the lead on day one, went into his second round after lunch finding himself in the lead by a shot after overnight leader Matt Every crashed from his opening 65 but crashing out of the event with a horror second round 83.

Every was not alone and in fact, just two players out in the morning managed to break 70 in the windier and much tougher Bay Hill conditions.

McIlroy also was soon struggling and making the turn in two-over and not helped in posting a double-bogey at the eighth hole.

He was then three shots back of England’s Tyrrell Hatton after a bogey on 15 but cut the gap back to just two with the birdie on 17 ahead of a closing par for his five-under tally.

“It was a grind and I think I made it more of a grind than I needed to,” said McIlroy.

“But yeah, it was tough. I mean, conditions were tricky, greens are getting firm, wind was out of a different direction today, so that made things a little interesting too.

“So, but all in all, it would have been nice to get back to even par after a double on 8, but it was nice to make birdie on 17 and I’m still right there in the golf tournament.”

No trouble for Hatton picking-up five birdies in a 69 and muscle his way to a one-shot lead on seven-under par and in his first of seven events over the next eight weeks.

“I am just so happy to be done with today as I felt like I lost my swing on my last nine holes, as I just felt so uncomfortable over the ball,” he said.

“I just didn’t know where it was going but then I am a little bit surprised to be where I am and I have my short-game and putting to thank for that.”



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