McIlroy gaining momentum but Lowry and McDowell need hot weekends
Rory McIlroy. Copyright USGA/JD Cuban
Rory McIlroy is building up a head of steam for a crack at his third win of the season in the BMW Championship in Chicago and a chance to win his second FedExCup next week.
The world No 3 overcame a stuttering start — and some poor early wedge play — but survived to play his first seven holes in level par before covering the last 10 in five-under to surge through the Friday traffic at Medinah with a five-under 67.
He wants to be as close as possible to the top of the FedExCup standings heading into the handicapped Tour Championship at East Lake in Atlanta next week and while he is still forecast to fall from third to fourth, he looked like a man on a mission over the last 12 holes yesterday.
“I was just sort of stuck in neutral there for a few holes,” said McIlroy, who is tied for 11th on eight-under, just four shots behind Japan's Hideki Matsuyama, who had just 22 putts in a brilliant, nine-under 63 to lead by one stroke from Patrick Cantlay and Tony Finau on 12-under..
“I think that birdie on seven just got me going a little bit and then especially the birdie on nine. I think the way I played the front nine to play it under par I thought was pretty good and then I guess that gives me a little bit of encouragement going into the back nine.
“But I hit better shots. I was a bit more committed to some of the shots I hit. I hit a great 8-iron into 17 there and hit a lovely 9-iron into the last. If I'm going to bed tonight thinking of something that I needed to do better going into the weekend, I just need to think of those two shots.”
McIlroy points to his statistics — especially his short game and putting — as evidence he’s playing the most consistent golf of his career, even if that was little help to him in this year’s majors.
SG: TEE-TO-GREEN 1st
SG: OFF-THE-TEE 1st
DRIVING DISTANCE 2nd
SG: APPROACH THE GREEN 11th
SG: PUTTING 22nd
PUTTING AVERAGE 4th
If McIlroy has Matsuyama in his sights as he homes in on the top of the FedExCup standings, Tiger Woods and Shane Lowry need hot weekends just to make it to next week's Tour Championship in Atlanta.
A second successive 71 that left Woods tied for 48th as he seeks the 11th place finish he needs to make the top 30 in the standings who progress to East Lake.
"I'm going to have to have a great weekend, make a lot of birdies and post some rounds in the mid-60s to give myself a chance at it," Woods said after ending the day 10 shots behind Matsuyama and a projected 45th in the FedExCup.
Lowry must finish solo 29th to make it to Atlanta for the first time and while he might wish he could enjoy his Open win a little longer, he has two more rounds to make the Tour Championship for the first time in his career.
Far from his best from tee to green this week, he battled his way to one-under for the day through 10 holes but then bogeyed the next three and eventually signed for a two-over 74 that leaves him six shots outside the minimum finish required on two-over, tied for last place in the 69-man field.
As things stand, solo fourth would get Graeme McDowell to Atlanta for the first time but he’s tied for 40th on three-under after a level par 72 yesterday, projected to remain 64th in the FedExCup and eight shots outside the finish he needs.
Power cut
At the Korn Ferry Tour Finals, Seamus Power is projected 59th in the standings after missing the cut in the first playoff event.
Seeking one of 25 cards via the three-event Playoff series, he followed a 7Th 6 with a 69 in the Nationwide Children's Hospital Championship to miss the cut by two shots on three-over. Scores
Harrington and Dunne progress in Prague
Pádraig Harrington shot a bogey-free, four-under 68 and Paul Dunne a 71 to make the three-under-par cut on the mark in the D+D Real Czech Masters in Prague.
As Italy's Edoardo Molinari posted a 66 to lead by two strokes from Belgium's Thomas Pieters on 12-under, Gavin Moynihan missed out by one stroke after a second consecutive 71. Scores
Des Smyth was five shots behind leader Paul Lawrie after opening with a 73 in the Scottish Senior Open at Craigielaw. Scores
