McIlroy hits route 66 in Orlando and predicts "at least" one major win this year.
Rory McIlroy. Picture: USGA
Rory McIlroy believes he’ll win "at least one" Major in 2020 and showed his intent as he blasted a six-under 66 to lie just one stroke behind Matt Every in the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
The world No 1 was one-over-par through six holes before he spectacularly moved through the gears at Bay Hill and rattled in five birdies and an eagle three in a blistering, 11-hole stretch.
In times past, the Holywood star might have become frustrated by his slow start to the day.
But buoyed by a seven-foot bogey save at his second hole of the day, he put on a ball-striking exhibition to lead by a shot in the clubhouse from Talor Gooch and Scottie Scheffler with Graeme McDowell just two behind in a tie for fifth after taking just 22 putts in a five-birdie 68.
While he lost focus and missed a four-foot birdie putt at the 12th, McIlroy birdied the 16th, 18th and first before hitting what his caddie Harry Diamond told him was the best shot he’s hit all year.
A raking draw with a three-iron travelled over 260 yards from a fairway bunker at the 587-yard fourth, setting up 24-foot eagle chance he snaffled up gratefully
The 2018 Bay Hill champion followed further birdies at the sixth and eighth with a 10-foot par save at his final hole and admitted that patience, and par-five play, was key.
“The bogey putt on 11 gave me some momentum and then I missed a little one on 12,” he said. “But after making birdie on 16 and 18 to turn under par, I had a bit of pep in my step going to the first tee and I played some great golf after that.”
He then conducted a Golf Channel interview and reiterated his opposition to the Premier Golf League because they would dictate when and where he must play.
He then witheringly added that he “didn’t like where the money was coming from” in reference to the PGL’s Saudi Arabian backers.
The Co Down man was also bullish about ending his five-and-a-half-year winless streak in the Majors when he spoke to BBC NI on the eve of the tournament.
"I remember when we had that chat at the end of 2013, I predicted I would win two and I went on to do that," McIlroy said. "So I am predicting I will win at least one."
He added: "I hope I am not going to win just one more, I am going to win a few more. It's been long enough, five and a half years since I won a major.”
McDowell was impressed by McIlroy’s 66 and even more pleased to putt so well in the tougher afternoon conditions as he bids to consolidate his spot in the world's top 50 before the March 30 qualifying cut-off for the Masters.
“Rory looks like he can shoot six-under at any given moment the way he’s playing right now,” said McDowell, who gained almost 4.6 strokes on the field thanks to 140-feet of putts holed. "He looks like the man on form and the man to catch.
"But for me, it was important to play well as the winds got stronger and try not to play myself out of the tournament. Obviously it was quite the opposite, I played well and got myself there in the mix.”
Brooks Koepka struggled to a 72 while Pádraig Harrington two-putted his seventh hole for his lone birdie in a two-over 74
A two-time winner of the event, Every shot an 85 in the second round of the Honda Classic last week but improved by 20 strokes at Bay Hill, carding a bogey-free 65 to lead McIlroy by one.
However, it was a frustrating day for the Irish in the European Tour's Commercial Bank Qatar Masters at Education City Golf Club in Doha.
Danish teenager Nicolai Højgaard (18) made six birdies in eight holes from the tenth, carding a seven-under 64 and to lead by a shot from The Netherlands' Joost Luiten.
Ardglass' Cormac Sharvin was four-under with seven to play but signed for a level-par 71 the left him tied 64th while Clandeboye's Jonathan Caldwell had 33 putts and failed to make a birdie in a 74.
It was also a test for Paris-based Kerry amateur Michael Young, who was two-under after two holes but had two triple bogey sevens and three bogeys in a seven-over 78.
