Rory McIlroy and bad weather golf are becoming as certain as death and taxes. The Northern Irishman was in serious danger of missing the US PGA Championship cut, which would have been a second premature major departure in succession, as the heavens opened above Oak Hill. A change of weather triggered an upturn in his fortunes.
McIlroy has never made any secret of his distaste for playing in poor conditions. He perfectly illustrated as much yet again here on Friday, taking 39 shots over the front nine which had him flirting ominously with the cut line.
The let-up in rain triggered a welcome improvement. McIlroy, who was three over at that stage, bogeyed again at the 1st – his 10th – but rallied to birdie four holes thereafter in a back nine of 32. He finished round two on level par and, at least, secure to play the closing 36 holes.
McIlroy’s body language is positive again. Sinking a putt from off the 7th green and his approach shot to tap-in range a hole later played their part in that.
“It did turn around when the weather turned around,” McIlroy admitted. “It feels good to play in like that when I knew that I had to. All I was telling myself was to be positive, that it was all about attitude. In the same position a few months ago, I wouldn’t be here – I would be on my way home.
“I have to try and get off to fast start tomorrow. I have played the front nine very well over the last couple of days so I have to try and do that again. Something in the mid-60s would give me a good chance on Sunday.”
There are flashes that McIlroy is returning to brighter things and, importantly, that he has the fight for battles such as the one confronting him for a brief time here.
The 24-year-old’s troubles this year have been more directly linked to concentration than his switch to Nike equipment, even though that change cost him valuable time at the start of the season, but he now looks to have regained some of his on-course focus.
If a successful defence of this title is beyond McIlroy, a scenario he isn’t willing to concede, then there are other reasonable targets. He should, for example, look to cement his place for the culmination of the lucrative FedEx playoff series at Atlanta’s Tour Championship.
Thereafter McIlroy can target defending the DP Tour Championship he won so impressively in Dubai last November. Should McIlroy end 2013 on a high, it would at least offset much of his turmoil between January and now.
Tiger Woods must break with recent habit and make low scores over the closing 36 holes of a major if he is to end his winless run which has currently lasted five years.
Woods’s Friday frustrations were summed up by a three-putt for par on the 14th and another one from 10ft for bogey two holes later. In between and again at 17 he impressively picked up shots but the world No1 finished on one over par and therefore 10 adrift of Jason Dufner. Woods struggled throughout his second round with the left-sided pin placements on his way to 70.
Phil Mickelson survived the cut, narrowly, at two-over. “This course rewards the players who are playing their best and I haven’t been at my best,” the Open champion said.
© Guardian News & Media Limited 2014
