………….Fatiha Betscher, Orlando, FL.

World No. 1 Rory McIlroy found the greens a lot tastier on day two of the Arnold Palmer Invitational needing just 25 putts in a sizzling round of a six under par 66 to move to eight under par in the Arnold Palmer Invitational in suburban Orlando.

McIlroy birdied five holes in succession from the 11th hole of his round and with his only blemish being a final hole bogey to be in the Bay Hill clubhouse just a handful of shots off the lead in the $US 6.3m event.

And after biting his tongue over the state of the greens on Thursday when he took 34 putts, McIlroy had just 25 putts on day two.

Rory McIlroy finds the Bay Hill greens a whole lot tastier in needing just 25 putts on day two and nine less than the opening round. (Photo – www.pgatour.com)

“It was good out there today and while it was probably not as quite consistent tee to green as I was yesterday, the putter is a great equalizer and I made my fair share of birdie putts today which was nice,” he said.

“Considering nothing dropped for me on Thursday  today was a good day and I felt like it was pretty tidy while the short game was good.

“I could have hit a few better shots but I mean there was a lot of good in there and I am very happy going to the weekend.”

Indeed McIlroy could not have asked for a better effort given this will be his last tournament before heading to Augusta National where he will be looking to become only the sixth player in the history of the game to have won all four Majors.

“I was still just trying to stay patient as possible and I then made a few good putts over my back that was the front nine of the course, which got me going but the key was I played the par 5s better today and that was a big help,” he said.

“Overall a good day and it gets me back into the tournament.”