Rory McIlroy’s fine form shows no sign of letting up after the Northern Irishman fired another under-par round at The Players Championship.
The Northern Irishman carded five back-nine birdies to jump into the lead at TPC Sawgrass. However, two dropped shots on the front nine saw McIlroy’s round end on a sour note. The 35-year-old is nine under, alongside Collin Morikawa.
McIlroy has traditionally excelled on Sawgrass’ back nine and really struggled on the front. Nonetheless, the four-time major winner is well-placed heading into the weekend.
McIlroy is relishing the windy conditions and is looking to become only the seventh golfer to win multiple Players Championship titles. After the Northern Irishman won the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am in strong winds, McIlroy will fancy his chances of a repeat performance in Ponte Vedra Beach.
Collin Morikawa makes Rory McIlroy admission
Morikawa is also well-placed heading into the third round, and the two-time major winner was asked about McIlroy’s current performance levels during his post-round press conference on Friday.
Morikawa was asked: “He’s kind of in contention all the time; what’s your impression of that?”
“Longevity is a huge thing, and not just longevity but consistency, and he’s a model of that,” he replied.
“I remember when I turned pro in 2019, he was top-fiving, top-tenning every single week, something that we saw Scottie do last year into this year, the past two years, I guess.
“But to do that over his entire career essentially is incredible. It’s what you strive to do, and just continue to keep working hard at it.”
Away from his comments on McIlroy, it’s been an eventful week for the American. Morikawa was scathing of some golf pundits who criticised him after the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill. The 28-year-old opted to leave the course and not talk to the media post-round.
Players Championship: Rory McIlroy and Collin Morikawa tee times
Despite Morikawa and McIlroy sitting at the same number, the pair won’t tee it up together on Saturday at TPC Sawgrass.
The American is off at 2:15 pm alongside Alex Smalley. McIlroy is off ten minutes later, playing with J.J. Spaun. Min Woo Lee and Akshay Bhatia will make up the final pairing.
World number one Scottie Scheffler is off at 1:10 pm alongside Taylor Pendrith, and Justin Thomas’ tee time is at 11:55 am. Thomas tied the course record on Friday and recovered from a first-round 78 to comfortably make the cut.
With the wind set to pick up, Sawgrass could prove to be a very different test during Saturday and Sunday’s rounds.
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