Rory McIlroy is in need of a low round on day three of the 2024 Olympic golf competition at Le Golf National.
Rounds of 68 and 69 have been solid for the Northern Irishman but not enough to keep pace with Xander Schauffele, Tommy Fleetwood and Hideki Matsuyama, who are tied for the lead on 11 under. LIV Golf star Jon Rahm was also among Friday’s red-hot rounds.
Favourable conditions have presented themselves this week, with the game’s elite players taking advantage of the softer fairways and greens.
Before the first round, Le Golf National’s rough had been earmarked as one of the course’s main defence. However, the thicker grass had seemingly been trimmed to a more manageable level, a change Schauffele admitted he was pleased to see.
Rory McIlroy discusses the rough at Le Golf National
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Speaking after his second round, McIlroy also discussed the rough at the Olympic venue, and the Northern Irishman offered a different verdict to Schauffele.
The four-time major winner claimed the rough has got him off guard, with conditions more ‘lush’ than he was expecting.
“Yeah, I was expecting — I think, you know, summertime in Paris, I expect it to be sort of warm and dry,” said McIlroy.
“I was expecting the course to be a little firmer than it is, and I thought the rough wouldn’t be quite as lush. But it obviously has not played that way. But yeah, if you put yourself in position off the tee, you’ve got plenty of chances.”
Rory McIlroy left to rue poor back nine on day two of the 2024 Olympics
McIlroy, as previously mentioned, will have to go low if he’s to challenge the lead come Sunday. And if the Northern Irishman falls short, he will highlight his back nine on Friday as one of the key reasons why he couldn’t land an Olympic medal.
The 35-year-old made a bogey on the 10th and a double on the 17th, which could prove highly damaging. Thankfully, he picked up a shot on his final hole, but chasing down the pacesetters now feels unlikely.
There are simply too many quality players between McIlroy and the lead for a podium charge to feel plausible. If he can’t go low in the third round, the trip to Paris will be viewed as a good training exercise ahead of the end-of-season PGA Tour playoffs.
McIlroy currently sits third in the FedEx Cup standings and will be looking to chase down Scottie Scheffler at East Lake at the start of September.
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