McIlroy relishing chance to battle for second British Open title
Rory McIlroy is relishing the prospect of doing battle for a second Open title as Jordan Spieth looked to join him in pursuit of a career grand slam.
McIlroy added a 68 to his opening 71 on Friday to lie five shots off the pace set by Spieth, who defied strong winds and torrential rain - which led to a short suspension in play in late afternoon - to finish six under par.
Spieth, who would join McIlroy in having won three of the game’s four majors with victory at Royal Birkdale on Sunday, held a twoshot lead over Ryder Cup teammate Matt Kuchar, with England’s Ian Poulter on three under alongside US Open champion Brooks Koepka.
“Jordan and Brooks are two of the best players in the world at the moment and I can’t wait to do battle with them,” said McIlroy, who needs to win the Masters to complete a career grand slam.
The 28-year-old had been five over par after six holes of his first round and seemed destined for a fourth missed cut in five events until a stern talking to from caddie JP Fitzgerald prompted a back-nine rally. The world number four came home in 32 with three birdies in the last four holes and maintained that momentum on Friday with birdies on the first, third and sixth taking him to the turn in 31.
That was an eight-shot improvement on Thursday and although he dropped shots on the 13th and 15th, a birdie on the 17th helped McIlroy climb into a tie for sixth with Richard Bland, Austin Connelly and Gary Woodland.
“To be in after two days and be under par for this championship after the way I started, I’m ecstatic with that,” McIlroy said. “I just wanted to continue with that good feeling from the last few holes (on Thursday) and went out with that positivity and trust in myself and just need to keep that for the next two days. I cant wait.”
Low scoring was the order of the day as the early starters made the most of a benign Royal Birkdale in the third round of the 146th Open Championship.
South Africa’s Shaun Norris, the first man out at 9:20am, set the trend with a bogey-free 65 to equal the lowest score of the week, which was soon matched by Australian Scott Hend.
And with South African Branden Grace racing to the turn in 29, the first round of 62 or lower in a major championship was a real possibility in ideal conditions which were far removed from the wind and torrential downpours on Friday.
As the odd man out of the 77 play- ers to make the cut on five over par, Norris played alongside marker Gregg Pettersen, an assistant professional at Royal Birkdale.
And the 35-year-old from Johannesburg got off to a flying start with birdies on the first, third and fifth before picking up further shots on the 10th and 17th to get back to level par for the tournament.
“It was ideal conditions so we decided to take it by the horns, play a bit more aggressively and it paid off nicely,” the world number 277 said.
Two-time major winner Jordan Spieth held the halfway lead on six under par, two shots ahead of Ryder Cup team-mate Matt Kuchar, with England’s Ian Poulter on three under alongside US Open champion Brooks Koepka.
Scotland’s Richie Ramsay was a shot further back, with Rory McIlroy in a tie for sixth on one under alongside Richard Bland, Austin Connelly and Gary Woodland. THE INDEPENDENT