Rory McIlroy and Justin Thomas both own houses in the same area on Florida’s east coast.
McIlroy and Thomas are members of the ultra-exclusive Bear’s Club in Jupiter, and they play together regularly when they’re not competing in tournaments.
Both players are competing at Bay Hill in the Arnold Palmer Invitational this week but they’ve experienced completely contrasting fortunes.
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McIlroy posted rounds of 72 and 68 to head into the weekend on four-under-par, while Thomas is sitting in dead last after back-to-back rounds of 79.
Thomas underwent back surgery back in November so it’s understandable that he was nowhere near his best this week in Orlando.
Maybe returning to competitive action on one of the most difficult golf courses on the PGA Tour wasn’t the best idea.
How Rory McIlroy reacted when he heard Justin Thomas was playing at Bay Hill
McIlroy spoke to reporters after his second round at the Arnold Palmer Invitational on Friday.
And he was asked if he has any advice for Thomas after the American struggled on his return to action at Bay Hill this week.
“Yeah, look, I haven’t gone through surgery, so I don’t know what that’s like to come back from,” McIlroy admitted.
“But, yeah, it’s going to take time. I saw J.T. a few weeks ago and he said that this is going to be his first start and I said, ‘Oof, that’s probably not the best place to come back to after six months off’.
“But look, J.T.’s been one of the best players in the world for the last 10 years, he’ll be fine. He just needs to get sort of sharp again and get into tournament mode and all that stuff.
“But, I mean, as long as he got through these two days and didn’t feel any ill effects of the back or the surgery, then I think he’s in a good spot.“
McIlroy was clearly very surprised that Thomas chose Bay Hill as the course to return to competitive action.
However, the key for the two-time major champion will be to shake off as much rust as he can before the Masters next month.
It will be a long process for him but if he’s patient, he’ll be just fine.
Rory McIlroy sums up his form after two days at Bay Hill
After his second round at Bay Hill, McIlroy was asked if he is pleased with the shape his game is in right now.
“Yeah, very pleased,“ McIlroy said.
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“One bogey. Hit it in the water on 8. But made a good putt for bogey there. I really felt like that kept any momentum that I had for the round going.
“I played the last 10 holes really, really well. Overall, really pleased.
“Played a very sort of controlled, patient round of golf, which you need to do around here. Yeah, good day’s work.“
McIlroy is a whopping nine shots adrift of second-round leader, Daniel Berger, heading into the weekend at the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
He will need to go very low on Saturday and Sunday if he is to have any chance of winning. However, if anyone is capable of doing just that, McIlroy is.
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