RORY FLYING IN CLUB CLASS
(Gbr & Irl unless stated, par 72) R McIlroy 67 65 S Horsfield 67 68, S Gros (Fra) 69 66 T Fleetwood 70 66 K Aphibarnrat (Tha) 68 69, R R ock 69 68, A Noren (Swe) 69 68, F Molinari (Ita) 70 67 L Bjerregaard (Den) 65 73, G McDowell 71 67, B (Rsa) Grace 69 69, N Bertasio (Ita) 68 70, D Fichardt (Rsa) 66 M Fitzpatrick 72, 67 71, L Jensen (Den) 68 70, M Korhonen (Fin) 68 70, A Levy (Fra) 70 68, F Zanotti (Par) 69 69 A Sullivan 71 68, T Olesen (Den) 69 70, M Pavon (Fra) 72 67, E Van Rooyen (Rsa) 70 69, B Hebert (Fra) 70 69, L Westwood 70 69, D Burmester (Rsa) 66 73, R Fisher 71, 68, J Heath 72 67, T Immelman ( Rsa) 71 68, Li H-T (Chn) 69 70 SAM HORSFIELD pledged his allegiance to Europe’s Ryder Cup team – despite moving to Florida when he was five.
The Manchester-born pro (above), 21, speaks with a US accent, but feels right at home back in the land of his birth.
He is big pals with Ian Poulter – who has predicted Horsfield will be a big star – and lived up to his billing yesterday with a second round 68. In his first pro event in the UK, he sits joint second with France’s Sebastien Gros.
“It feels like playing in front of a home crowd,” he said. “I do feel English, but have lived in America since I was five. There is no question of which team I would play for in the Ryder Cup – Europe.” BELGIAN star Thomas Pieters will pay for his power after snapping a club around his neck in frustration after missing the fourth green. The Ryder Cup star and three-time Tour winner misjudged his second shot, then snapped his iron as he lost control. Pieters, who missed the cut after his secondround 72 left him on three over par, is now set to be fined £5,000 by the European Tour.