It took Rory McIlroy seven holes to make a par on Friday at The Players Championship. And even that was far from routine.
Coming off an eventful 65, McIlroy started his second round trailing a red-hot Wyndham Clark, who fired his second-straight 65 in the morning, by seven shots.
McIlroy was in the same position entering the par-4 seventh, but was even on his round without a par. He went bogey-birdie-bogey-birdie-birdie-bogey over his first six holes Friday.
Playing the seventh, where he endured a highly publicized – and scrutinized – drop in Round 1, McIlroy avoided the water left and instead hit his tee ball well right, onto the pine straw. Taking a bold approach, McIlroy played his second under tree limbs, over water, through a bunker and onto the green.
What a recovery shot from @McIlroyRory 👏
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 15, 2024
Rory cards the first par of his second round at No. 7. pic.twitter.com/eyvodWr6zx
He then two-putted for a 4 to remain at 7 under and seven off the pace.
That didn’t settle the round, however, as McIlroy birdied Nos. 9 and 13, bogeyed the 12th and doubled the 14th.
It added up to a 1-over 73 and dropped him to 6 under, eight back of leader Wyndham Clark.
