PGA Championship: Rory McIlroy questions course setting after raising hopes on Aronimink composite leaderboard | Golf News
Rory McIlroy insists he is still on the hunt for back-to-back majors after climbing a crowded leaderboard to return to PGA Championship contention.
The Masters champion moved from last to his first-round 74 by carding a 67 on Friday afternoon at Aronimink Golf Club, moving him within five strokes of the half-time lead.
McIlroy registered three birdies in difficult scoring conditions to move one up in the tournament and stay in the hunt to lift the Wanamaker Trophy for the third time, as Alex Smalley and Maverick McNealy set the pace at four under.
The World No 2 described his round as “not as s***” to reporters, a day after offering one word to sum up Thursday’s showdown, with McIlroy happy to give himself the chance to challenge for a seventh major title.
“It was hard to make birdies out there because obviously it was windy the last few days, but also where they put these spots,” McIlroy told reporters after his second round. “I feel like they really tried to protect the course in the first few days.
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McIlroy gave a sweet response to a reporter who asked him to compare his first two rounds at the PGA Championship.
“It looks like they used a lot of really heavy ones [pins]. Depending on the calm conditions and maybe a few favorable spots, I think the guys who are there for the weekend – I think everyone should feel like they’ve got a chance.
“It’s a combination, but you run irons in that back nine and shoot 4 under five and all of a sudden you’re in the middle of things. Five games back I feel like I’m right in the tournament, and that’s really what I wanted to do today.”
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McIlroy got his revenge in the PGA Championship race, as Alex Smalley and Maverick McNealy held a narrow lead.
The eight shots separating the lead from the four-over cut mark are tied for the fewest in PGA Championship history, leaving McIlroy to wonder if more has been done to provide more scoring opportunities.
“I think a mixed leaderboard like this, I think it’s a sign of poor planning,” McIlroy added. “I think that when it is united as it is, it never allows anyone to separate themselves.
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The tough conditions at Aronimink made it a battle for players fighting to get into the PGA Championship
“It’s easy to make tons of pars, it’s hard to make birdies. It’s not that it’s hard to make a bogey, but it feels like a bogey is the worst score you’re going to shoot on any one hole. There’s not a lot of danger.
“I think the setup is good – the golf course is good, the pins were tight and the wind was what it was again. I’ve always felt that the best setup starts to spread the field a little bit and not the best setup that brings everyone together. I feel like that’s what happened the last two days.”
Gusty winds and challenging pins left problems on the course during a slow Friday, and McIlroy appeared frustrated after a long wait to play his tee shot and approach at four.
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McIlroy was left frustrated by his poor performance in the second round of the PGA Championship as his team was left waiting to tee off on the 10th hole.
“It was slow,” McIlroy admitted. “I think so [Theegala’s lost ball] that’s what really slowed us down in the middle of that round. There are a few parts of the course that you can plan to get stuck in, but that’s okay.
“It looks like those first two days of major championship golf are going to be the same. You get that Friday afternoon at Augusta and it’s one of the slowest rounds of the year. You don’t mind being there because it’s Augusta, but at the same time it’s very slow.”
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