Rory McIlroy, right, of Northern Ireland, watches his tee shot on the 12th hole during the second round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational golf tournament. AP/Press Association Images
Arnie
Rory McIlroy recovers but left chasing Jason Day after two rounds of Arnold Palmer Invitational
AUSTRALIA’S JASON DAY fired a bogey-free seven-under par 65 on Friday to take a two-shot lead over Henrik Stenson after two rounds of the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill.
Rory McIlroy meanwhile looked good as he prepares for the first major of the year in a few weeks time at Augusta.
The Northern Irishman hit a five-under-par 67 yesterday leaving two under for the tournament.
The Holywood man had to work hard after an opening round of 75.
Graeme McDowell missed the cut thanks to 76 – he bogeyed three of the last four holes.
Last year’s PGA Championship winner, Day, has his eyes firmly set on back-to-back major titles with the Masters looming in three weeks at Augusta National.
The world number three birdied three par-5 holes and followed up his opening 66, which put him one stroke ahead when the round began, with another impressive round at the Orlando layout leaving him on 13-under 131 for 36 holes.
“It’s great to be there,” said Day, who led by five strokes when he finished his round. “Definitely way above average. I had it on a string around here the past two days. I’m very happy with the way I’ve gotten around this course.”
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Day, who began his round off the 10th tee, sank a two-foot birdie putt at the par-5 12th, tapped in for birdie at the par-5 16th after missing a 17-foot eagle bid and dropped a 37-foot birdie putt at the par-3 17th.
The Aussie dropped his approach inches from the cup to set up a birdie at the fourth, sank a 12-foot birdie putt at the fifth and added a three-footer for birdie at the par-5 sixth. Then he closed out the round by banging in a 36-foot birdie putt at the ninth.
“My goal was to be patient out there but still aggressive with the lines I was taking,” Day said.
“Today I hit some phenomenal drives to set up some great irons into the greens. Played the par-5s great and his a couple huge bombs out there.” Stenson was eight adrift when he teed off later in the day, but climbed up the leaderboard with a 66.
“It’s motivating,” Stenson said of starting so far back.
“You can’t let it be frustrating that you’re eight shots back. “He played great, and you’ve just got to go and do the same, and I managed to do that,” added Stenson, who made five of his seven birdies on the back nine.
England’s Justin Rose also signed for a 66 that left him three shots back on 134. After a rollercoaster first round that included two eagles and a double-bogey, Rose was pleased to notch six birdies without a bogey. “Yesterday was a colorful scorecard,” Rose said.
“Today, a little bit more solid.” Day, Stenson and Rose will tee off together on Saturday as organizers send the field off in threesomes from both the first and 10th tees in an effort to beat expected inclement weather.
140 – Patrick Rodgers 70-70, Zach Johnson 70-70, Brian Harman 69-71, Jonas Blixt (SWE) 72-68, a-Maverick McNealy 69-71, Francesco Molinari (ITA) 68-72, Andy Sullivan (ENG) 70-70, Adam Scott (AUS) 67-73, Smylie Kaufman 69-71, Ryan Moore 71-69, Webb Simpson 70-70
Rory McIlroy recovers but left chasing Jason Day after two rounds of Arnold Palmer Invitational
AUSTRALIA’S JASON DAY fired a bogey-free seven-under par 65 on Friday to take a two-shot lead over Henrik Stenson after two rounds of the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill.
Rory McIlroy meanwhile looked good as he prepares for the first major of the year in a few weeks time at Augusta.
The Northern Irishman hit a five-under-par 67 yesterday leaving two under for the tournament.
The Holywood man had to work hard after an opening round of 75.
Graeme McDowell missed the cut thanks to 76 – he bogeyed three of the last four holes.
Last year’s PGA Championship winner, Day, has his eyes firmly set on back-to-back major titles with the Masters looming in three weeks at Augusta National.
The world number three birdied three par-5 holes and followed up his opening 66, which put him one stroke ahead when the round began, with another impressive round at the Orlando layout leaving him on 13-under 131 for 36 holes.
“It’s great to be there,” said Day, who led by five strokes when he finished his round. “Definitely way above average. I had it on a string around here the past two days. I’m very happy with the way I’ve gotten around this course.”
Day, who began his round off the 10th tee, sank a two-foot birdie putt at the par-5 12th, tapped in for birdie at the par-5 16th after missing a 17-foot eagle bid and dropped a 37-foot birdie putt at the par-3 17th.
The Aussie dropped his approach inches from the cup to set up a birdie at the fourth, sank a 12-foot birdie putt at the fifth and added a three-footer for birdie at the par-5 sixth. Then he closed out the round by banging in a 36-foot birdie putt at the ninth.
“My goal was to be patient out there but still aggressive with the lines I was taking,” Day said.
“Today I hit some phenomenal drives to set up some great irons into the greens. Played the par-5s great and his a couple huge bombs out there.” Stenson was eight adrift when he teed off later in the day, but climbed up the leaderboard with a 66.
“It’s motivating,” Stenson said of starting so far back.
“You can’t let it be frustrating that you’re eight shots back. “He played great, and you’ve just got to go and do the same, and I managed to do that,” added Stenson, who made five of his seven birdies on the back nine.
England’s Justin Rose also signed for a 66 that left him three shots back on 134. After a rollercoaster first round that included two eagles and a double-bogey, Rose was pleased to notch six birdies without a bogey. “Yesterday was a colorful scorecard,” Rose said.
“Today, a little bit more solid.” Day, Stenson and Rose will tee off together on Saturday as organizers send the field off in threesomes from both the first and 10th tees in an effort to beat expected inclement weather.
131 – Jason Day (AUS) 66-65
133 – Henrik Stenson (SWE) 67-66
134 – Justin Rose (ENG) 68-66
136 – Jamie Lovemark 68-68, Troy Merritt 67-69, Kevin Chappell 68-68, Derek Fathauer 70-66
137 – Paul Casey (ENG) 68-69, Marc Leishman 67-70, Brendan Steele 67-70
138 – K.J. Choi (KOR) 68-70, Jason Kokrak 70-68, David Hearn (CAN) 71-67, Chris Wood 69-69, Rob Oppenheim 70-68
139 – Cameron Tringale 68-71, Hideki Matsuyama (JPN) 70-69, Keegan Bradley 69-70, Billy Horschel 72-67, Kiradech Aphibarnrat (THA) 70-69, Zac Blair 71-68, Chris Kirk 68-71, Emiliano Grillo (ARG) 68-71, Billy Hurley 69-70
140 – Patrick Rodgers 70-70, Zach Johnson 70-70, Brian Harman 69-71, Jonas Blixt (SWE) 72-68, a-Maverick McNealy 69-71, Francesco Molinari (ITA) 68-72, Andy Sullivan (ENG) 70-70, Adam Scott (AUS) 67-73, Smylie Kaufman 69-71, Ryan Moore 71-69, Webb Simpson 70-70
© – AFP 2016
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