RORY MCILROY’S DRIVER bore the brunt of his frustration on a day where he failed to make inroads at the BMW Championship in Denver.
The Northern Irishman hurled his driver into the water in frustration following his wayward tee shot on the 17th hole, having just three putted for bogey at 16.
Rory McIlroy just threw his driver into the water. 👀 pic.twitter.com/a1XtC1d8gA
— Golf Digest (@GolfDigest) August 23, 2024
McIlroy was on his way to a one-under-par 71. This leaves him on three under overall following yesterday’s 70 — yet he trails leader Adam Scott by 10 strokes. The 44-year-old Australian shot a course record 63 and sits on 13-under par, three clear of the chasing pack.
Shane Lowry, meanwhile, recovered from his first-round 75, making six birdies in a five-under 67, putting him a shot behind McIlroy on two-under.
You can follow the leaderboard here.
“It’s been a long time. I can’t remember the last time I shot a 63 out here,” said Scott.
The Australian only made it into the top 50 thanks to a final round 67 at the St Jude Championship on Sunday, but with that pressure off he says is playing with freedom.
Scott has three strokes over Keegan Bradley, the overnight leader, who made a four-under 68, with his first bogey of the tournament coming on the 18th.
Bradley, the USA’s Ryder Cup captain for 2025, held a one shot lead over Hideki Matsuyama after the first round but by the time he teed off it was a very different situation.
Matsuyama had withdrawn with a back injury and Scott had moved well ahead of him.
Sweden’s Ludvig Aberg also moved into contention for the weekend, matching Scott’s 63 with a round which saw a bogey on the par-four third and an eagle on the par-five 14th.
Sweden’s Alex Noren was in fourth place on eight-under after shooting a second straight round of 68.
FedEx Cup leader, world number one and Masters champion Scottie Scheffler had a tough day – making even par despite three bogeys and a double bogey on the par-four 10th.
Scheffler is one-under for the tournament and 12 strokes off the lead.
Xander Schauffele, the winner in this year’s PGA Championship and British Open, also had a testing round making five bogeys in his one-over 73.
