RORY MCILROY WAS one hole away from a course record at TPC Sawgrass during the second round of The Players Championship on Friday, but he remained frustrated with his display.
McIlroy ended the weather-delayed second round six shots behind leader Jason Day following a 64, a shot shy of the course record, equalled by the latter on Thursday.
Despite posting seven birdies and an eagle, a final-hole bogey cost McIlroy both the course record of 62 and a chance to move in on Day – one of 33 players unable to complete their rounds due to an electrical storm – at the top of the leaderboard in Ponte Vedra Beach.
“I’m disappointed, but there’s still two more days to go,” the Northern Irishman said after completing his round, when he was only two shots off the pace.
“But that’s the nice thing, I’m in a good position heading into the weekend, but it really depends on what the guys do this afternoon, because there’s so many guys that went low and the course will play a little bit tougher this afternoon, but hopefully I’m still not too far behind going into the weekend.”
Day did not complete his round, but he was clean enough to extend his lead to three strokes at the top, although he still has four holes to play.
McIlroy’s friend Shane Lowry has the 36-hole lead.
McIlroy was cruising before the final hole and was a birdie away from a course record score, but his second shot landed in the sand and the world number three failed to recover, two-putting his way to a bogey, admitting the course record was on his mind.
“Maybe if I had the five-wood in the bag, I might have went for it, because at least I could have got a little bit more height,” he said.
“But, yeah, I was thinking about it, I wanted to make birdie and shoot 62. There’s no doubt about that.”
The maul tries would not have been so easily scored if Klyne had been playing. He is invaluable to Munster an absolute brick wall in defence.
Didn’t look good now. Should never have Glasgow come away with bonus point. As for Jager, there’s a reason he’s at munster and not at La Rochelle or Toulouse. Let’s not get carried away with this guy folks.
@Ray Ridge: is it that he has ambitions of playing international rugby? Or that he values player welfare?
@Ray Ridge: easy does it Ray. He might not tech the heights of your interprovincial career or international prospects but give him a little time before cutting the legs from him.
@David O’Flynn: Time?? 6 years at the Crusaders and failed to make it as an all black. I doubt a year or two at munster will make a difference. No harm or offence.
@Ray Ridge: Was that last sentence a pun there Ray? This lads father is Harm Jager.
Harm Jager is a Dutch strength and conditioning coach who worked (works?) in Ireland but I can’t remember who for, Football? Rugby?
I remember him in connection with Niall Quinn I think.
@Ray Ridge: Neither did Aki, JGP or Lowe make it to the ABs but they made it into the Irish side.
You seem to be very quick to judge. Judge as you wish to be judged is a good philosophy, irrespective of any religious connotations.
They seemed to try and drop it (lineout) a few times, but Loughman wasn’t able to pull the man down and so gave away momentum and never got behind it, and they only contested once (from 5m). Jager seems a little off the fitness level but looks like a bouncer at Mullingars 3 best nightclub which is exactly what’s needed. Hope he goes well. No need for that reverse scrum penalty for one of the maul tries.
I have to agree with Matt Williams article last week about how the proliferation of maul tries. I agree it is ruining the game. They have to think of a way of Dix our aging it and encouraging the running option.
@John dunne: discouraging!
@John dunne: Ugh. Matt Williams is awful, Ray Ridge is even better.
Unfortunately, I didn’t get to see the match but it is a great result. The fact that there’s areas to improve upon means Munster will get even stronger. The return match with Leinster will be a tough one, I can’t see Munster losing it.
Remember, Glasgow have a very strong team this year, so no mean result overall! That’s in spite of their BP, which needs to be looked at in terms of the overall scoring by Munster. If Munster had lost, yeah I’d complain but it’s a great score to put on a strong team.