• US Open, Round Two

Record-breaking McIlroy sprints clear of the field

ESPN staff
June 17, 2011
Rory McIlroy was on form again on Friday © Getty Images
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Rory McIlroy produced an outstanding round of golf for the second day in succession to move six shots clear of his nearest challenger at the halfway stage of the US Open on Friday.

The Northern Irishman had been the class of the field on Thursday with an opening round of 65, and he more than matched that performance - if not that scoring - a day later with a round of 66 that briefly saw him become the first person in the 116-year history of the event to reach 13-under par.

Only an unfortunate double-bogey at the 18th prevented him from staying at that lofty position, but at 11-under he nevertheless retains a healthy lead going into the weekend. His total of 131 shots is also a new 36-hole record for the tournament.

McIlroy opened with three straight pars but soon found his scoring touch, birdieing both the fourth and sixth before putting his tee-shot in perfect position on the short par-four eighth. There, from 113 yards out he spun a beautifully-struck wedge that landed on the back edge of the green before spinning all the way back into the cup - cueing an eagle two that leapfrogged him to ten-under.

The back nine at Congressional is widely accepted to be the harder nine of the Washington DC layout but McIlroy made a mockery of that too - reeling off five consecutive pars before making birdies at the 14th (after firing his approach to six feet), 16th and 17th (where he rolled in an effort from 12 feet).

But, after driving the ball imperiously all day, beleaguered opponents saw a glimmer of hope as the 22-year-old pulled his tee-shot at the 18th into the refreshment area right of the fairway, before failing to take advantage of a fortunate break as he dragged his approach shot into the water short and right.

It could have been better still for McIlroy - who failed to get up-and-down from greenside at the par-five ninth and was forced to settle for a par, and then saw his 15-foot eagle attempt on the par-five 16th slide agonisingly left of the cup.

Nevertheless, it was one of the finest displays of golf seen in many a year - leading irresistibly to comparisons with Tiger Woods' evisceration of Augusta National at The Masters in 1997 - and leaves him in an imperious position going into the weekend.

"I played 35 very, very good holes and that's what I need to focus on," McIlroy said afterwards, reflecting on the final hole. "I feel comfortable in my game, comfortable on this golf course. I've given myself plenty of opportunities and taken some of then.

"My aim at the start of the day was to get to double figures [under par], so after eight holes I had to re-assess!"

YE Yang is McIlroy's nearest challenger, the South Korean starting at three-under before making two birdies on the front nine prior to being halted by a 15-minute delay due to the threat of lightning.

He seemed to be knocked off course slightly upon the resumption, but birdied the 16th and made no mistake down the last to shot a 69 that puts him at least within touch of the runaway leader at five-under.

Sergio Garcia shot a level par round of 71 but was disappointed © Getty Images
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Sergio Garcia remains one of McIlroy's nearest challengers, after a level-par second round of 71 that ensured the Spaniard remains at two-under.

Garcia missed numerous opportunities throughout his round - particularly on the greens - in what was a frustrating day of three bogeys and three birdies. He was joined at two-under by Americans Robert Garrigus and Brandt Snedeker, who both signed for a 70 for the second day in a row, before former Masters champion Zach Johnson got himself to that mark with a solid 69 and Matt Kuchar added his name to the list late in the day following a 68.

McIlroy's playing partner, Phil Mickelson, also remains among the best of the rest - signing for a round of 69 to be one-over, despite following McIlroy in finding the water down the devilish final hole.

In many respects that was about the only similarity between the rounds of the two men; with Mickelson missing fairways and greens with abandon, but somehow coming up with increasingly inventive ways to escape with a par.

Bogeys on the 11th and 18th were the only damage he took before the final hole six, while he managed to pick up birdies on the fifth, sixth, eighth, 14th and 16th to revitalise his challenge for a first US Open title of his career.

The world's two highest ranked players, Luke Donald and Lee Westwood both had better fortunes on day two. Donald managed a one-over 72 to slip slightly to four-over, while Westwood actually made progress against the card - hauling in four birdies and just one bogey on the way to a 68 that helped him back to one-over overall.

The final member of that threeball, world No. 3 Martin Kaymer, split the difference with a one-under round of 70 to sit two-over heading into the weekend.

Defending champion Graeme McDowell was made to rue a couple of minor lapses in judgment as he recorded a 74 that saw him fall to two-over for the competition, at the same number as Padraig Harrington who held things together to shoot 73.

Other notable performances on the day include amateur Patrick Cantlay, who ensured he made the cut with a creditable round of 67 to move to level par alongside reigning Masters champion Charl Schwartzel (74), Henrik Stenson (72), Louis Oosthuizen (73) and Alex Noren (67).

There were matching rounds of 71 for Alvaro Quiros and Robert Rock - who both sit comfortably at one-under along with Heath Slocum.

McIlroy shared low round of the day honours with Marcel Siem, who stole in late in the day with a 66 to recover from an opening 79 to recover to three-over.

However, the halfway cut looked likely to see the end of many players' chances for another year, with Ian Poulter one certain to lose out after a second round 73 left him at six-over. Aaron Baddeley, Ben Crane and Nick Watney all suffered the same fate.

Others who will have the weekend off include Hunter Mahan, Rickie Fowler, Stewart Cink and Ernie Els, although Bubba Watson will have an anxious wait after play was suspended late on Friday evening due to bad light with a handful of players still on the course.

How they finish on Saturday morning could decide where the cut line, currently expected to be four-over, finishes.

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