Erratic McIlroy struggles to keep pace with red-hot Koepka

RORY MCILROY mixed the good, the bad and the ugly in a rollercoaster 70 to fall six shots behind a rejuvenated Brooks Koepka in the WGC-Workday Championship at The Concession.

The Co Down ace (31) had just 24 putts as he racked up seven birdies but he made too many mistakes, pencilling in a double-bogey seven at the seventh as well as his third bogey of the day at the 18th.

At five-under par, he was tied 13th as Koepka dropped his only shot of the day at the last, carding a 66 to lead by one stroke from Australian Cameron Smith (66), Billy Horschel (67) and Collin Morikawa (64) on 12-under.

Shane Lowry had a better day on the greens, making three birdies in a 70 to move into the top 30 on twounder while in the Puerto Rico Open, Seamus Power made his first cut of the year when he followed a 69 with a hard-fought 70,

“I’ve played well these two days and it’s naturally nice to get some weekend work for a change,” said the West Waterford man, who lies six shots behind Brandon Wu (24), tied for 23rd on five-under.

Pádraig Harrington saw two front nine birdies erased by a double-bogey seven at the 15th as he shot 72 to make the cut with a shot to spare on two-under.

The Ryder Cup skipper was reunited with caddie Ronan Flood who recovered from the dizziness that prompted him to sit out the opening day’s play.

On the LPGA Tour, Leona Maguire cruised into the weekend on her 2021 debut but she can’t wait for this summer’s €1.9 million ISPS HANDA World Invitational.

The event backed by pop star Niall Horan’s Modest! Golf Management agency will be co-sanctioned by the European Tour, the LPGA Tour and Ladies European Tour from July 28 to August 1 with men and women splitting the huge purse evenly at Galgorm Castle and Massereene.

“Yeah, it’s fantastic, another event on home soil,” said the Slieve Russell star, who made four birdies and four bogeys in a second round 72 that left her tied 20th on three-under, seven shots behind Lydia Ko in the Gainbridge LPGA at Lake Nona, where she is now a member.

“To get off to a nice start of the year is always good and first weekend of the year pretty stress-free, which is nice.”

Stephanie Meadow shot a second round 72 but missed the cut on fourover as 10-time Major winner Annika Sorenstam shot 71 to sit just inside the projected cut mark on two-over.

Seeking her first LPGA Tour win since 2018, Ko shot 69 to lead by a shot from Nelly Korda (68) on 10-under par.

WGC – at The Concession

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LPGA Gainbridge Championship

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