….. Fatiha Betscher, Orlando, FL

Rory McIlroy went bananas in needing just 25 putts in a round of a six under par 66 after legendary Arnold Palmer enticed the World No. 1 into eating a banana split.

McIlroy capped his second round with five birdies in succession near the start of his inward half to be just a handful of shots from the lead in the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill in suburban Orlando.

The 25-year McIlroy had spent the evening as guest of the 85-year old Palmer and hours before McIlroy struggled to stomach the Bay Hill Resort greens after taking 34 putts on day one of the $6.3m event.

Arnold Palmer talks Rory McIlroy into eating a banana split

However that all changed on day two with McIlroy delighted to have been in the presence of Palmer for some two-and-a-half hours and then teeing up on day two and move to eight under par.

“We had a lot of food to eat and with Arnold making me eat a banana split,” said McIlroy smiling.

“So I’ll be going to the gym this afternoon.

“But it was just fantastic. It really was.  We had about two-and-a-half hours.  He told me stories of the old days and talked about a few of the things he’s done more from a commercial standpoint, the drink and golf courses he’s designed and all this sort of stuff, stuff that I could potentially be getting into myself in the future.

“He’s had 60 years as a professional golfer and commercially so he’s clearly done very well, and there was a lot of chat about that and the fact he was very close to his father just like I am.

“So we shared a few stories like that.  It was just great to be in his presence and great to be in his company and I have a very good time.”