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Rory McIlroy took advantage of an outrageous piece of good fortune in the second round of the BMW PGA Championship to move to within one shot of the lead of the DP World Tour’s flagship event.
With his wildly hooked drive on the par-five 17th seemingly heading out of bounds, his ball rattled around pinball-fashion in trees before cannoning back on to the fairway. From there the world No 3 managed to make a birdie.
“It was a seven, net four,” McIlroy said. The good luck allowed him to keep a bogey off his card, with the 65 hauling him into 11-under and onto the heels of the pacesetters Viktor Hovland (68) and Soren Kjeldsen (64).
McIlroy actually had the opportunity to make an eagle on the par-five 18th, but by then he had raised the mood sufficiently in the 25,000-strong sell-out chants to ensure it was his name they were chanting in the grandstands.
“Rory, Rory, Rory,” rang out as the sombre atmosphere gave way to the overwhelming positivity at McIlroy’s performance.
The Northern Irishman made his tribute to Queen Elizabeth II, whose passing was respected by Friday’s play being cancelled and the £7 million tournament being reduced to 54 holes. “She was such a steadying figure,” he said. “I saw a stat yesterday that she ascended to the throne the year before Ben Hogan won his Open Championship.
“So it just shows you how long she’s been around and things that she’s seen. That level of duty, and to do it with the dignity and dedication and the grace that she has, she was an absolutely incredible woman.
“I was very fortunate, I got to meet her a few years ago, and she couldn’t have been nicer. A wonderful moment for me. I have a picture of that in my house alongside my MBE which I’m very proud of.”
McIlroy was adamant the Tour were correct to continue the tournament. “I thought it was the right decision,” he said. “I don’t think we are…
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Source : yahoo
