Out of nowhere.
Rory McIlroy is a confidence golfer. When it’s low, it shows in his grimaces and slumped shoulders. When it’s high, though, there’s nobody better to watch.
Thankfully, it was very much the latter as the world number six strung together a sensational round to catapult himself into contention at the Memorial Tournament.
The 29-year-old, still spitting from failing to close out last week’s BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth having held a three-shot lead after round two, struggled over the first couple of rounds at Muirfield Village in Dublin, Ohio.
Level par after Friday’s round, McIlroy had barely made the cut and found himself 11 shots adrift of leader Kyle Stanley.
The four-times major winner faced a nervous wait on Friday afternoon to see if he’d made it to the weekend but, having just about done so, he’s taken full advantage by charging up the leaderboard long before the leaders tee off.
McIlroy started strongly, with two birdies in his first three holes. He eagled the fifth and added another birdie two holes later to go out in 31. He then rattled off a hat-trick of birdies at 11, 12 and 13 to put him eight-under for the day and the tournament. The birdie at 12 was almost one better as his tee shot spun back to within inches of the cup and what would have been a hole-in-one.
Sit. Sit. Sit.
Spin … spin … spin!SO close to an ace for @McIlroyRory.#QuickHits pic.twitter.com/XBR3IDrefT
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) June 2, 2018
Yep, he was dialled-in.
Considering his gargantuan length off the tee, McIlroy would have been disappointed with failing to birdie the par-5 15th but he kept a bogey off his card before signing for a 64.
It still leaves him three behind Stanley but McIlroy tore through the field, jumping up 65 places. Another strong round and, who knows, he may clinch his second PGA Tour title of the season.
11 back to start the day.
5 back walking to the 12th tee.Rory continues to roll at @MemorialGolf.#QuickHits pic.twitter.com/bmtOgJHDEm
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) June 2, 2018
Rory McIlroy: now -8 for the day, -8 overall, tied for 4th after making the cut on the number yesterday. The last player to make the cut on the number and win on the PGA Tour was Brandt Snedeker at the 2016 Farmers Insurance Open.
— Justin Ray (@JustinRayGolf) June 2, 2018
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