RORY MCILROY HAD to make do with a one-over par 73 for his second round at the 2017 Masters in Augusta as Sergio Garcia and Rickie Fowler have stormed up the leaderboard.
McIlroy seemed all set to end on a positive note at the 18th as his second shot floated expertly towards the hole. But it cannoned back off the pin and left him scrambling to make par.
Ultimately, he missed a gettable putt and had to make do with a bogey – his fifth of the day.
There was certainly more consistency to his back nine, with six pars in total and a birdie at 17, though there was another dropped shot at 12. But his front nine was choppy – he started and finished with a bogey while there was another one at 3. Still, there were three birdies too.
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So, after an opening round of 72, he has drifted a little and sits in a tie for 13th place.
“A day where you had to battle and make pars”, he told Sky afterwards.
The shot at the last looked like it would have been a tap-in birdie. And then the wind caught me out on the putt. If I can put a 31 or 32 together I can get close. I hope these will be the toughest conditions we have to play in.”
Meanwhile, overnight leader Charley Hoffman struggled badly with Garcia and Fowler taking full advantage.
Hoffman carded a three-over par 75 to fall back to four-under – a 10-shot swing from his opening round.
David Goldman
David Goldman
In contrast, Garcia showed some excellent consistency as he added to his Thursday score of one-under to rack up a three-under-par 69 and take a share of the lead.
But Fowler is still on the course and looks set to be the leader heading into the weekend.
His round has been helped by an eagle at the 2nd and followed that up with birdies at the 3rd and the 8th.
Some bad luck on the 18th sees Rory McIlroy drift at Augusta as Fowler and Garcia surge
RORY MCILROY HAD to make do with a one-over par 73 for his second round at the 2017 Masters in Augusta as Sergio Garcia and Rickie Fowler have stormed up the leaderboard.
McIlroy seemed all set to end on a positive note at the 18th as his second shot floated expertly towards the hole. But it cannoned back off the pin and left him scrambling to make par.
Ultimately, he missed a gettable putt and had to make do with a bogey – his fifth of the day.
There was certainly more consistency to his back nine, with six pars in total and a birdie at 17, though there was another dropped shot at 12. But his front nine was choppy – he started and finished with a bogey while there was another one at 3. Still, there were three birdies too.
So, after an opening round of 72, he has drifted a little and sits in a tie for 13th place.
“A day where you had to battle and make pars”, he told Sky afterwards.
Meanwhile, overnight leader Charley Hoffman struggled badly with Garcia and Fowler taking full advantage.
Hoffman carded a three-over par 75 to fall back to four-under – a 10-shot swing from his opening round.
In contrast, Garcia showed some excellent consistency as he added to his Thursday score of one-under to rack up a three-under-par 69 and take a share of the lead.
But Fowler is still on the course and looks set to be the leader heading into the weekend.
His round has been helped by an eagle at the 2nd and followed that up with birdies at the 3rd and the 8th.
Full leaderboard available here>
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