Rory roars back with panic-free round

PALM BEACH GARDENS, FLA. — Golf is starting to feel easy again for Rory McIlroy, who bounced back from a sloppy start on Friday in the Honda Classic for a 4-under 66 that gave him his first 36-hole lead on the PGA Tour in 18 months.

Tiger Woods is making it look hard.

McIlroy recovered f rom two early bogeys by running off six birdies in a 10-hole stretch. He looked solid from tee-to-green, hit putts with growing confidence and wound up with a one-shot lead over Brendon de Jonge.

“I knew that with the way I’m playing and the confidence in my ability, I would be able to get those shots back,” McIlroy said.

“I didn’t panic. I didn’t try to do anything different. Just tried to keep playing the way I was.” He was at 11-under 129. Woods felt fortunate to still be playing.

He was over the cut line after scrambling for a bogey on the 11th hole and wound up with a 69 to make the cut on the number.

Woods hit only two greens over his last nine holes. His lone birdie on the back nine was a chip-in on the 13th after he missed the green with a wedge.

“It was a grind, there’s no doubt about it,” Woods said.

“I didn’t hit it very good. Just one of those days where I fought out a number, which was good.”

Because 79 players made the cut, there will be another cut to top 70 and ties on Saturday. Woods missed the 54-hole cut the last time he played on the PGA Tour at Torrey Pines.

David Hearn (70) of Brantford, Ont., is tied for 23rd at 3-under. Mike Weir of Brights Grove, Ont., did not make the cut after shooting a 72 and a 70. Calgary’s Stephen Ames was also out after a 73 and a 75.

And at least Woods is still playing the weekend. That wasn’t the case for Phil Mickelson. Playing the Honda Classic for the first time in 12 years, he had a 71 to miss the cut. So did Henrik Stenson, the No. 3 player in the world, with rounds of 73-76.

Swinging freely and putting beautifully, McIlroy hit his stride on his back nine with four birdies in five holes, including the par-5 third when he smashed a drive some 35 yards past Adam Scott and had only a 6-iron into the green on the 539-yard hole.