Ror luck’s in
MAC MAKES CUT WITH CHIP
RORY McILROY conjured a magical chip-in birdie to stay in the game at the US PGA.
The Ulsterman was flirting with the cut line in his rain-delayed second round after making only one birdie in his previous 22 holes at the Bellerive Country Club. And the world No.5 was in danger of running up a big number at the par-four 14th when another poor short iron shot saw him miss the green from only 151 yards. But from a bad lie in thick rough, the four-time Major champion produced a superb flop shot from 12 yards which curled into the cup to spark great celebrations in St Louis.
McIlroy, who had been on one-under par, picked up another shot at the 17th to card a 67 despite struggling with his swing.
He said: “The 14th gave me some momentum – it seemed like the only way I was going to make birdie out there was either to hit it to tap-in range or chip-in.
“It was sort of uneventful, apart from I had the chip-in on 14 after not a great iron shot.
“I didn’t have my best stuff this morning. I only hit one green in the last six holes but I played them in two-under par. I sort of hung in there. I did what I needed to.
“I felt like the cut was going to be one-under par, it ended up being even. But it was nice to shoot three under this morning and get in at least a little closer.”
His playing partner Tiger Woods got on a roll on Friday afternoon as he made three birdies in his opening seven holes – and picked up another shot at the eighth in his first hole yesterday morning.
But bogeys at 10 and 12 stopped his charge and the American had to settle for a 66.
“I missed two short ones there from six to eight feet – and that basically stemmed my momentum a little bit,” said Woods.
After 36 holes, there were 22 players within six shots of leader Gary Woodland but Sergio Garcia was heading home after missing his fifth consecutive cut in a Major.
The Spaniard has played in eight Ryder Cups but is now relying on a wildcard to play in Paris next month.
Captain Thomas Bjorn said: “He knows what he needs to do and he knows he needs to get out there.
“He has a lot of stuff with him – credibility and Ryder Cup history – which speaks a lot in his favour. We would all love to see him there.
“But the one thing I always say is that the Ryder Cup is a great place to be if you are playing really well.
“I have been there once when I wasn’t playing particularly well and it was a horrible place to be because everything is on you, all that pressure. And I think we are great as golfers, with all that pressure, when we are on good form. But when you are not quite there, it is an uncomfortable place.”