Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
MACS POWER
Rory and Graeme in hot pursuit of leaders in Florida
RORY MCILROY and Graeme Mcdowell both remain in contention at the Arnold Palmer Invitational – even though they shot over-par second rounds yesterday.
Mcdowell, 40, was the first of the Ulstermen out at Bay Hill in Orlando as he hoped to improve on his fine opening day four under 68.
But an up and down round followed for the Portrush man (right) as he made five bogeys – including three in a row – on his way to a two over 74 that also featured three birdies.
That left him tied for
17th at the halfway mark, five shots behind leaders Tyrrell Hatton from England and South Korean Sung Kang on seven under.
Mcilroy, who began the day a shot shy of overnight leader Matt Every, also failed to match the heights of his first round 66.
A bogey came his way at the second followed by another at the seventh and a double at the par four eighth. But birdies at six, nine and 12 limited the damage until the 15th where he dropped another shot.
His day ended on a brighter note though as a birdie at the par three 17th and a par at the last kept him in a tie for fourth place, just two off the lead.
American Every had a terrible time however as he went from leader to leaving, a horror round meaning he missed the cut. The shocked 36-year-old, a two-time winner at Bay Hill, had recorded an opening round seven under par 65.
But he followed up with an incredible 11 over 83 that had him saying in disbelief: “I really didn’t see this coming but it happens. It kind of happens to me – it kind of happens to me quite a lot.”
2016 US Open runner-up Scott Piercy has lost major sponsorship deals after he posted a homophobic meme on social media about openly gay former American presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg.
The Titleist and Footjoy brands dropped the 41-year-old even though he deleted the meme and apologised for his actions.