McIlroy leads in Baltimore after garage rummage; GB&I leads Curtis Cup
Rory McIlroy during the PGA in May
RORY McIlroy is not giving up on his third $15 million FedEx Cup bonanza after he blasted an eight-under 64 to share the lead with Jon Rahm and Sam Burns in the BMW Championship in Baltimore.
The Holywood star flung a misbehaving three-wood in a bush on Monday and fell out of the world’s top 15 for the first time since 2009.
But his new “spoon” worked a dream last night as he rifled a 287-yard bullet to 11 feet at the 16th and rolled in the eagle putt en route to an eight-under 64.
The leading trio were one stroke clear of Ryder Cup wildcard hopeful Sergio Garcia with McIlroy projected to leap from 28th to fourth in the FedEx Cup standings with only the top 30 contesting next week’s Tour Championship in Atlanta.
“New old three-wood,” said McIlroy, who loves the course because it gives the big hitters a chance to open their shoulders. “It's actually a three-wood I used last year. I went home, I went down to Florida after Northern Trust on Monday night, went into the garage and rummaged through a few different things.
“Got my old putter back out, got my old three-wood, brought a few shafts out, tried different shafts in the driver, went to a new shaft in the driver, and it seemed to work out today.”
The former world No 1 complained of tiredness on Wednesday but he was re-energised yesterday and admitted that playing without the pressure of being high up the FedEx Cup standings was a help.
“I've went [sic] through playoff stretches before where you're always in that lead group. You're either one, two or three in the FedExCup, and that can sort of take its mental toll over the few weeks where I'm in a position where I just -- I need to play well just to play next week. There is an element of free-wheeling, I guess.
“And the energy thing; I was super tired yesterday. But you get a good night's sleep and you feel a little bit better the next day and you can go out and play well. Another good night's sleep tonight and get up, get back out on the golf course and try and do the same stuff that I did today.”
Garcia currently needs a Ryder Cup wildcard but it doesn’t sound as though Pádraig Harrington has put him under pressure to play the BMW PGA at Wentworth despite Harrington’s recent warnings about Wentworth.
“I want to say to players, if you’re interested in playing (at the Ryder Cup) then come (to the BMW PGA Championship) and show me the form,” Harrington said. “If you are interested in a pick and decide to sit at home, you will be taking some chance.”
All-time record points scorer Garcia has not played Wentworth since
“At the moment I don't have it planned,” he said. “I'm not going to lie, I'm 41 years old, I've travelled all around the world for a long time, so I can't be doing too many jumps and just close to the Ryder Cup if I get picked.
“Obviously, I'll talk to him, and if he has me in his sights to be in the team, try to figure out what we can do, but what I want to do is play as well as I can this week and hopefully next week and then we'll see.”
Energy is a problem for Shane Lowry, who needs to finish fifth at Caves Valley to make it to East Lake but after carding a one-under 71 that left him tied 46th, he admitted he’s running out of steam.
"I'm sort of in a mindset where I'm pretty wrecked at the minute,” said Lowry, who will likely be playing to wrap up his Ryder Cup place in the BMW PGA at Wentworth in a fortnight. “I’ve had a lot of travel, a lot of air miles.
"It's one of those where Atlanta would be a huge bonus for me if I make it. I'd be pretty happy to be there. I'm not going to fight to the death to make it, but I'm trying my best."
Meanwhile, Hermitage rookie Rowan Lester took advantage of an invitation and opened with a two-under 68 in the Omega European Masters at Crans-sur-Sierre.
The Dubliner (25) was tied 33rd, eight strokes behind England's James Morrison, who shot a course record, 10-under par 60 lead by three strokes from countryman Marcus Armitage and France’s Robin Sciot-Siegrist.
Clandeboye's Jonathan Caldwell was 74th after a 70, but Cormac Sharvin has work to do to avoid his fifth missed cut in a row after making five birdies, four bogeys and two double bogeys in an adventurous 73.
Tramore's Robin Dawson recently ended a run of 13 missed cuts and appears to be on the mend as he made eight birdies in a five-under 66 to lie just three shots behind Denmark's Marcus Helligkilde in the Challenge Tour's B-NL Challenge Trophy.
Ballymena's Dermot McElroy shot 69 to share 20th in Holland while Gavin Moynihan was 33rd after a 70, Michael Hoey 54th after a 71 and John Murphy 92nd after a 73.
In amateur golf, Great Britain and Ireland lead the United States 4.5-1.5 after winning both sessions on the opening day of the Curtis Cup at Cowy in Wales.
The hosts won the morning foursomes 2.5-0.5 and brought in Lurgan's Annabel Wilson and Castlewarden's Lauren Walsh for the afternoon fourballs.
Walsh helped Caley MacGinty beat Jensen Castle and Gina Kim 2&1, but Wilson and Emily Toy lost to world No 1 Rose Zhang and No 9 Allisen Corpuz by one hole.
Meanwhile, Ulster beat Connacht 7-2 and will battle Munster, who were 5-4 winners over Leinster, for the Women's Interprovincials at Shannon.
Connacht had an 8-3 win over Munster and face Leinster, 6-5 winners over Ulster, for the Men's title.
