Golf

Rory McIlroy stays within touch as Xander Schauffele impresses at Wells Fargo

Irish golfer shot a bogey-free 68 for tied second in the clubhouse, five behind Olympic champion

Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland looks on while playing the 11th hole during the second round of the Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow. Photograph: Andrew Redington/Getty
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland looks on while playing the 11th hole during the second round of the Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow. Photograph: Andrew Redington/Getty
Philip Reid
Fri May 10 2024 - 22:02

Olympic gold medallist Xander Schauffele sought to turn the Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow into a coronation. But he did not have it all his own way. And Rory McIlroy stubbornly stuck to his task to ensure the American – seeking a first win on the PGA Tour since his Scottish Open success of 2022 – would be made look over his shoulder headed into the weekend.

On a day where patience was required, McIlroy – a three-time winner of the tournament – shot a bogey-free second round 68 to add to his opening 67 for a midway total of seven-under-par 135 to be among Schauffele’s chief pursuers.

McIlroy started his round on the par 5 10th and hit the ground running with a five-foot birdie putter after finding a greenside bunker in two and added another birdie on another par 5 at the 15th – where he missed the green left but played an exquisite chip to three feet – and turned in 34.

On his homeward run, the world number two found birdies hard to come by. McIlroy, in fact, reeled off 10 straight pars from that birdie on the 15th until he finally found another, on the par 4 eighth when he drove it short of the green and then almost chipped in for an eagle two, only for the ball to remain above ground for the easiest of tap-in birdies.

READ SOME MORE

McIlroy had another birdie look on his closing hole, the ninth, where he hit a seven-iron approach shot from 175 yards to 12 feet only for the putt to graze the cup. “It was solid, I felt like I could have squeezed a few more shots out of it ... if I am driving the ball well I can take advantage of it on this golf course probably more than any other course on tour,” said McIlroy of heading into the weekend with intent, looking for back-to-back wins after teaming up with Shane Lowry to win the Zurich Classic on his last outing.

Taylor Moore, whose only PGA Tour win came in last year’s Valspar Championship, shot back-to-back 68s for 136 to also remain in contention in the $20 million signature event.

“I feel like physically my game’s been in a good spot for a while and really trying to piece four rounds together and score a little bit better in key moments. And obviously off to good start this week, so looking forward to keeping it going,” explained Moore.

On the LPGA Tour, Leona Maguire followed her opening 66 with a disappointing 76 to reach the halfway stage of the Cognizant Founders Cup at Upper Montclair Country Club in Clifton, New Jersey, on two-under-par 142, nine strokes behind clubhouse leader Rose Zhang.

Maguire was comfortably inside the cut line but, having started the day in third place, drifted out of contention in a round played in difficult weather conditions which saw her manage just one birdie in her round along with five bogeys.

Zhang, the 20-year-old American who turned professional less than a year ago but who has juggled her universities studies with playing on tour, followed up her 63 with a 68 for 131 in what she termed “gruelling” conditions.

Stephanie Meadow added a 75 to her opening 73 for a midway total of 148 which saw her miss the cut for just the second time this season.

And world number one Nelly Korda – seeking a sixth straight LPGA Tour title, which would set a new record – remained very much in contention in her bid to achieve that feat, claiming four birdies on her front nine.

Philip Reid

Philip Reid

Philip Reid is Golf Correspondent of The Irish Times