Rory revels in attacking Sawgrass as Tommy passes an ‘ultimate test’
RORY McILROY admitted he’s relishing being able to release his aggression around Sawgrass as Tommy Fleetwood emerged from his bit-part “Moliwood” role.
The Northern Irishman was denied a birdie finish after his approach hit a sprinkler head and flew over the green to rest against a fan’s lunch bag.
But two putts at the par-five ninth, his final hole, ensured a flawless fiveunder 67 that left McIlroy two off Players Championship clubhouse leaders Fleetwood and American Keegan Bradley.
With golf ’s unofficial fifth Major having been brought forward from May to March, the 29-year-old said: “Over the last 10 years it has been irons off tees and really trying to plot your way around the course.
“I hit drivers on holes today where I would never have the last few years.
“Even when you are aggressive and you miss, it’s a touch easier to get yourself back into position.
“The rough isn’t as long or as gnarly and when you miss the greens you are not having to contend with that Bermuda grass and guess how it’s going to come out.”
Fleetwood finished seventh at Sawgrass last year and third in the Arnold Palmer Invitational on Sunday as Francesco Molinari stormed through the field with a 64 to win his second PGA Tour title.
The Englishman, the other half of the successful Ryder Cup duo, is still seeking his first but six birdies on his back nine set the pace with a 65.
“I’m trying to keep up,” Fleetwood joked. “It’s hard these days but I’m trying my best.
“It’s clearly the next step for me to win over here but winning’s not easy and I have to keep plodding away, do BY DALE RANKIN the right things and focus on myself. It’s a good time to be coming into form. It’s been different this year because I’ve been used to starting so fast.
“But I feel like I’ve been doing a lot of good things and sometimes you just need a rhythm of shooting good scores and that seems like it’s coming.
“I played really well all day apart from I hit a poor tee shot on 14 and got away with it.
“And then on 16, the par five, I hit a poor second and I was frustrated at that point because I had a lot of chances from 15 feet and didn’t make any. It just shows you, stay patient and things can happen.
“The course doesn’t make you feel very comfortable at all, you are always a semi-bad shot from struggling to make par. It’s one of the courses that’s the ultimate test in golf.”
Tiger Woods was among the late starters, recording just one par in a rollercoaster back nine en route to a 70 that leaves him tied 34th.
Perhaps the biggest surprise was a 74 by Justin Rose, who started the turn with a triple-bogey seven.
The world No.2 was in a greenside bunker in two shots but took two attempts to get out of the trap and three more to hole out.
While Rose dropped three shots in one hole, American Harris English picked up the same number with an albatross at the par-five 11th.
Not to be undone, compatriot Ryan Moore recorded a hole in one at the iconic 17th.
Moore’s 121-yard wedge off the tee hit the flagstick around a quarter of the way up but dropped straight into the cup to send the crowds gathered near the island green into raptures.