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WHILE Rory McIlroy continued fighting his swing, he handed his Ryder Cup colleague Matthew Fitzpatrick a huge compliment in declaring that the rising star does not receive the recognition his talent deserves.

Fitzpatrick, 22, kept his name near the top of the leaderboard, birdieing two of his closing three holes in a three-under-par 69 to move into second place at eight under par in the Arnold Palmer Invitational here.

American Charley Hoffman (66) led the £7.04million event at 10-under as the firstround leader, Emiliano Grillo of Argentina, took to the course in the afternoon half of the draw.

Fitzpatrick is competing on an invitation and, as revealed yesterday in Express Sport, he is looking to secure full PGA Tour membership either this week or during the course of his next two events – next week’s WGC Dell Match-Play Championship in Texas and a fortnight later at the Masters.

Fitzpatrick’s second round included five birdies and just two bogeys with the pick of his birdies a 25-foot putt from just off the back of the green at the par-four 10th.

“The key today was that I scrambled really well,” he said.

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“I was just a bit looser going into the greens off the tee and that was a big thing, saving par.”

Fitzpatrick’s boyish looks and small stature prompted one local TV reporter to ask if his growing US fan base are somewhat surprised at his physical appearance.

“I guess so – I’m sure probably people think I’m the amateur out there or the 15-year-old that’s got in or something,” he said, smiling.

“But I don’t really mind that, I think it’s quite funny. I would rather that than people think, ‘Oh, he’s going to win every week’.

“I can’t really imagine the sort of pressure that Rory and Jason Day and those guys have – it’s probably tough to keep up with.”

Fitzpatrick’s comments led to McIlroy being asked if he feels Fitzpatrick is being sold short.

“I do think so,” said McIlroy after his one-over-par round of 71. “But then I can understand what some may say as he looks the same as he did when he won the US Amateur [2013] – he still looks very, very young.

“He’s a quiet kid but he gets his business done and he does it very efficiently and very well. He’s a great talent.

“He’s a Ryder Cup player already and he won one of our biggest tournaments, has won a couple of the biggest tournaments over in Europe so far, so it’s not a surprise to me to see him up there at the top of this leaderboard.”

McIlroy fought back from a horror start and then a mid-round wobble. “I was thinking after my start this morning I could be back home for lunch,” he said.

Paul Casey produced a secondround 72 to be inside the top 10 at four under.