Sublime Rory hits the front

Wentworth – Northern Irish golf star Rory McIlroy, above, played such a sublime second round of golf at the PGA Championship yesterday he had defending champion Alex Noren quipping he thought about quitting.

The 29-year-old quadruple major winner carded a bogey free seven-under par 65 to move to 12 under and a three-shot lead over Englishman Sam Horsfield.

Noren – who played in the same group as the Ulsterman and like him and playing partner Lee Westwood also didn’t record a bogey – may have been joking about retiring but he was in awe of McIlroy’s round.

“That’s the best round I’ve ever seen. I’m about to quit golf I think,” said Noren.

Noren sits five shots off McIlroy but the Swede will be aware that after his 62 last year which saw him come from way off the pace to seal victory anything is possible.

McIlroy, though, likes being out in front going into the weekend even if he like Noren staged a last-round blitz to come from seven shots back to win in 2014.

“Obviously I have the confidence that I’m playing well and I can go out and try to I guess just replicate what I did the day before,” said McIlroy.

“On the first tee (today), I’ll be thinking about what I did today and try to keep the same swings. I went a couple better today than I did yesterday. (I am) not sure I’ll keep the same progression going but something similar would be nice.” –