SM
Watford vs. Leeds: 5 hrs 29 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews

Rory McIlroy still confident of challenging at Wells Fargo Championship

:Headline: Rory McIlroy still confident of challenging at Wells Fargo Championship: ID:358189: from db_amp
McIlroy sits five shots off the pace heading into the weekend.

Rory McIlroy insists he is "still right there" at the Wells Fargo Championship despite heading into the weekend five shots off the lead following a disappointing finish to his second round.

McIlroy, who shared top spot after an opening 66, looked set for another good day as he moved to nine under with two holes remaining at Quail Hollow on Friday.

However, the Northern Irishman slipped back towards the chasing pack after dropping three shots on the final two par-fours and having to settle for a one-under-par 70.

McIlroy is five shots off the lead heading into the weekend at the Wells Fargo Championship (Jason E Miczek/AP)

That left the world number four on six under overall and in a share for fourth place, five shots adrift of pacesetter Jason Dufner.

Despite the gap, McIlroy is remaining optimistic at the midway stage in Charlotte.

He said on pgatour.com: "I'm still right there going into the weekend. I just need to try and shake off that bad finish and get off to a good start tomorrow."

McIlroy had carded five birdies and one bogey in his opening 16 holes but much of that good work was undone at the death.

On the short eighth – his penultimate hole of the day after starting on the 10th – McIlroy found a bunker off the tee and, despite being only 55 yards to the green, conspired to take another five shots as he recorded a double-bogey.

The four-time major champion, looking to celebrate his 30th birthday this weekend by winning this event for a third time, also bogeyed the ninth – his last – after missing the green and failing to get up and down.

McIlroy was better off the tee on Friday than he was on Thursday but ended up scoring higher.

He added: "Golf. It's a funny game.

"I stood up here (Thursday) night talking about how I got the most out of it yesterday, and today was the complete opposite. I turned a 66 into a 70."

American Dufner followed up his opening 68 with a superb eight-under-par 63 that included an eagle, seven birdies and just the one dropped shot as he moved to 11 under.

Max Homa also signed for a 63 – his blemish-free – to sit alongside Joel Dahmen in joint second place on 10 under. 

Dahmen, who was overnight leader alongside McIlroy, shot a second successive 66.

Patrick Reed (69) is on six under with McIlroy, while England's Justin Rose (67) and Ireland's Seamus Power (68) are among a group of four players a further shot back.

amp_article__358189 : Database Data restored...  : 
last updated article - 2019-05-04 09:44:07:
html db last update - 2021-02-09 14:41:22 :

ex - 7200 : read : read cache amp html

Click here for more stories about Rory McIlroy

Share this article now:
Recommended Next on SM
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Arsenal28204470244664
2Liverpool28197265263964
3Manchester CityMan City28196363283563
4Aston Villa29175760421856
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs28165759421753
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd28152113939047
7West Ham UnitedWest Ham2912894650-444
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2811985044642
9Wolverhampton WanderersWolves28125114244-241
10Newcastle UnitedNewcastle281241259481140
11Chelsea27116104745239
12Fulham29115134344-138
13Bournemouth2898114152-1135
14Crystal Palace2878133348-1529
15Brentford2975174154-1326
16Everton2887132939-1025
17Luton TownLuton2957174260-1822
18Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest2967163551-1621
19Burnley2945202963-3417
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd2835202474-5014
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.



. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .