McIlroy takes 2-shot lead
Rory McIlroy holed out from the 14th fairway for eagle on his way to a 6-under-par 65 on Friday to build a two-shot lead at the Mexico Championship in Mexico City.
McIlroy got 14 hours of sleep to help overcome a stomach virus.
“I just felt like I had a bit more energy. I had a bit more pep in my step,” McIlroy said. “I wasn’t just trying to get through the round today, I was trying to build on the score that I had and it was nice to feel like that again.”
In his first tournament in seven weeks because of a rib injury, McIlroy made six birdies and an eagle. He missed a 3-foot birdie putt on the last hole, but still led by two over Phil Mickelson, Justin Thomas and Ross Fisher in the World Golf Championships event. Thomas had a 66, and Mickelson and Fisher each shot 68.
Mickelson played the final 15 holes with his brother, Tim Mickelson, on his bag because his regular caddie fell ill.
McIlroy was at 9-under 133. Dustin Johnson shot 66 and was three shots behind.
Johnson, in his debut at No. 1, watched a number of putts wiggle to the hole on the poa greens. He birdied three of his last four holes. “I feel like I’m hitting good putts, they’re just very difficult,” Johnson said. “I feel like someone’s playing goalie up by the hole. It’s not going my way right now, but hopefully I can roll in a few more putts this weekend. ”
LPGA Tour: Inbee Park made a birdie on the last hole to take a one-stroke lead over Michelle Wie and two others after two rounds of the LPGA’s Women’s Champions in Singapore.
Park lost her place atop the leaderboard when she made a double-bogey on the 12th hole, her only blemish in two rounds at the Sentosa Golf Club. But she regained her composure with birdies on the 14th and 18th holes.
The Olympic gold medalist had a second consecutive 5under 67 to lead the $1.5 million event at 10-under 134.
Wie, who led overnight after a 66, shot a bogey-free 69 to join Hur Mi-Jung (67) and Ariya Jutanugarn (68) in a three-way tie for second. Suzann Pettersen (67) and Park SungHyun (68) reached the halfway stage at 8 under, tied for fifth.
European Tour: Alexander Bjork shot a 67 and kept a share of the lead, joined at 10 under by Scott Jamieson (65) after two rounds of the Tshwane Open in Pretoria, South Africa.