Players Championship: Rory McIlroy on cut mark as Xander Schauffele sets pace
Rory McIlroy is hoping a birdie on the final hole of the second round will be enough to take the middle ground at the Players Championship.
The last champion, who was among the early starters on Friday, scored one point with 1-under-par 71 to move up to the next level in the tournament; This is right above the predicted cut-off point with the top 65-plus draws in the last two rounds.
McIlroy, who said he felt “rusty” in the first round after spending a few days without hitting the ball following his back injury, said he “hit the ball better” in the second round.
“I played well enough to move up the leaderboard, I couldn’t make a single putt,” added the world number two, who missed seven birdie attempts from inside 20 feet.
“Hopefully I’ve done enough to get into the weekend and get two more days.”
Playing partner
The two-time major winner hit every fairway with a stunning display of ball striking.
“I was attacking the golf course instead of defending,” said the American, who twice finished second in the PGA Tour’s flagship tournament.
“It’s always easy to be aggressive on the fairway and take advantage of the greens being a little softer. But I think they’re slowly getting stronger.”
Schauffele is one point ahead of American Cameron Young, who is nine under par after a 67.
Canadian Corey Conners shot just 30 in his first nine holes; This included sinking a 102-yard wedge for three eagles in the ninth, where he also carded a 67 that lifted him to eight under.
Jordan Spieth also made positive moves up the leaderboard by making five consecutive birdies in the middle of his round.
But he said his finish was “bad” after making double bogey on the second day. He described golf as a “strange game” after shooting a 68 that left him three behind.
World number one Scottie Scheffler, who shot an erratic first-round 72, is among the next starters alongside England’s Tommy Fleetwood.
Sweden’s Ludvig Aberg is also on the course and had three birdies and an eagle in his four holes to move up the leaderboard.
