Travelers Championship: Rory McIlroy surged up the Travellers Championship leaderboard with a six-under 64 in the second round at TPC River Highlands.
The world No. 3 was eight strokes off the lead at the start of the day after making five birdies and five bogeys in his opening round, which included his first PGA Tour hole-in-one.
McIlroy, on the other hand, climbed into contention on Friday with eight birdies, only to double-bogey his last hole – the par-three eighth – and settle for a six-under total.
McIlroy is now tied for ninth position on eight under par heading into the afternoon groups. Denny McCarthy of the United States leads by four strokes heading into the afternoon after following up his opening round 60 with a five-under 65 to lie on -15 overall.
following a 65, Viktor Hovland is tied for eighth place with McIlroy, with world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler a stroke down following a level-par second round. Aaron Rai of England is also on -7 overall, with compatriot Matt Fitzpatrick on -6.
However, Masters winner Jon Rahm may be a big-name absence for the weekend after shooting a one-over-par 71 to finish on two under. After a one-under 69, Tommy Fleetwood is also a shot beyond the cut line.
As the afternoon groups began, the predicted cut mark was three under.
McIlroy got out to a fast start, hitting five birdies before the turn.
The first came on his second hole, the par-three 11th, followed by back-to-back gains on the 14th and 15th, just as he had done in his first round.
McIlroy would also finish his opening nine holes with straight wins, and two more birdies would follow as he approached the turn at the par-four second and third holes.
McIlroy had a chance to shoot 59 after birdying his 15th hole, the par-five sixth.
But that would come to an end on the par-three eighth. After seeing his tee ball find the cup on Thursday, his feelings would be very different on Friday when his tee shot ended up in the water.
McIlroy had to settle for a five as his bogey putt went just past the hole, and he also found himself in danger at the last with an errant shot right.
But McIlroy recovered to save par and put himself in position to win the Travellers Championship for the first time this weekend.
However, world No. 2 Rahm’s search for his first Travellers title is certain to last another year as he mixed three bogeys with two birdies on Friday.
The Spaniard bogeyed his first hole, the par-five 10th, and while he responded with a birdie at the following par-five 13th, another bogey would follow at the par-three 16th.
After five straight pars around the turn, the fourth stroke would be dropped. Rahm would make birdie two holes later, but he was unable to extend his lead over the next three holes, and he now faces an early departure as he sits on the wrong side of the projected cut.
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