ROUGH TURNS OUT ALL RIGHT
McIlroy takes a tricky path to the top, matching Harman with 65 at wet Olympia Fields
Rory McIlroy didn’t mind being in the rough at rain-soaked Olympia Fields, except for having trees and a bunker between him and the 17th green. And even that didn’t matter Thursday in the BMW Championship.
McIlroy found the short grass only six times with 18 tee shots — three of them on par-3 holes — but no one would have guessed looking at his card. He played bogey-free for a 5-under 65, giving him a share of the lead with British Open champion Brian Harman in the second FedEx Cup playoff event.
“Only hitting three fairways today and coming up with 65 is a bit of a bonus,” McIlroy said.
The greens were so soft after a two-hour rain delay in the morning that McIlroy realized trying to get at pins was easier coming from the rough because the ball wouldn’t have as much spin.
“I’m not saying I was trying to aim for the rough,” he said with a smile.
And certainly the spot he found himself in on the par-4 17th wasn’t ideal. He had only 116 yards left on the 456-yard hole, but a stand of trees blocked his path to the green — a big bunker in front of the putting surface.
Using a 7-iron, he punched the ball through a gap in the branches, just over the bunker, just over the green, and then chipped in for birdie. It was that kind of day.
“There was a couple of branches above the window I was looking at, and I was like, ‘If it hits those, it’s just going to drop down near that front left bunker and I’ll have a decent angle down the green and have a 10-footer or less to save par,” he said. “It was a bit of a hitand-a-hope. Just trying to thread that needle. It was either chip it out or take it on. And it’s only Thursday. I thought, ‘What the heck? I’ll take it on and see what happens.’ ”
Harman, who returned from his British Open title with some rust at the FedEx Cup playoff opener last week, delivered his own excitement toward the end of the round. He holed a 40-foot birdie putt on the par-3 16th, then chipped in for birdie on the 17th.
He and McIlroy were one shot clear of a large group at 66 that included Scottie Scheffler, Matt Fitzpatrick, Sahith Theegala and Rickie Fowler. Scheffler had gone nine months without finishing worse than 12th, but now has gone consecutive weeks outside the top 20 as his putting has been a struggle. It was nice to see them go in for a change. With a victory, Fowler can earn one of the six automatic spots on the U.S. Ryder Cup team.
As for Fitzpatrick and Theegala, it’s all about being among the top 30 in the FedEx Cup race after this week in order to advance to the finale at East Lake. Fitzpatrick is No. 40 and needs a good finish to reach the Tour Championship and salvage a disappointing year. Last year’s U.S. Open champion beat Jordan Spieth in a playoff at Hilton Head, but he has one top 10 in his last nine starts.
“Really pleased,” Fitzpatrick said, adding “really” six more times, equaling the number of birdies he made in the opening round.
Theegala is No. 31 and jumped into the mix Thursday by holing out with a 9-iron from the 14th fairway for an eagle.
“I think it’s impossible to ignore,” he said of the standings. “I think everyone would be lying if they didn’t know exactly where they stood — not exactly, but somewhat of an idea what it’s going to take to get to next week.”
Collin Morikawa and Cameron Young were among those at 67. Jon Rahm, twotime defending champion Patrick Cantlay and Jordan Spieth were at 68. Lucas Glover, going for his third victory in as many weeks, shot 70.