
Golf
Share
Published 22:14 20 Jul 2018 BST
Explore more on these topics:
"I'm committed to making sure, even if I don't play my best golf and don't shoot the scores I want, I'm going to go down swinging and I'm going to go down giving it my best. I just need to get back in that mindset."It took some of that scrapping from the 29-year-old to avoid a stinker of a start. Heading out early, and dealing with cross-winds, the world number eight found himself in as rotten position at the Par 4 second hole. He missed the green with his approach but his recovery game was dialled in and he saved par in style. https://twitter.com/EuropeanTour/status/1020208973155373056 It was all pars and a solitary birdie on the front nine but the journey home was riveting. A birdie at 10 was handed back at 12 before further shots picked up at 13 and 14 saw him get to -5. A bogey five on 15 brought him back to reality and he went close with a couple of putts but could not get back to -5. His two-round total of 138 was looking good until, for an hour at least, the winds died down at Carnoustie at Kisner sprinted out to -8. A leader after the first round, Kisner handed a couple of shots back to finish alongside Johnson on -6. Round of the day was England's Tommy Fleetwood as his six-under score of 65 moved him to within one of the lead. McIlroy will tee off on Saturday afternoon, not too long before the leaders set off, and he made a confident claim heading into the weekend:
"I don't want to say [it has been] easy, but it has felt comfortable. "If I can get on a run or off to a fast start on one of the next two days, I don't see a ridiculously low score out there but I do see something like what Tommy shot out there today - a 66 or a 65. I think I'm capable of that, yeah."A 65, if possible, would get McIlroy to -10 going into the final round. That is the dream scenario but if he can stay close to the top and give himself a chance on Sunday, he will ask for no more. Consider this, too, as the Northern Irishman heads into what will be a pivotal 'Moving Day': https://twitter.com/JustinRayGC/status/1020272954469502976 Good omens after an equally good start.
Quiz: Name the players with the most top-25 finishes in Masters history
Legends of the game. Augusta National has seen all the greatest golfers to ever play game walk its hallowed grounds at the Masters. Some have conquered the famed course, while others have struggled to tame it. Over the years, there have been a few who have shown incredible longevity and consistency at the tournament, but […]
Golf
1 week ago
The Masters 2026 live hub
A tradition like no other! Masters week 2026 is finally here. The greatest tournament in golf is back, with the world’s best heading to Augusta National in Georgia. Will Rory regain his title or will Scheffler prove the bookies right? Can Shane Lowry make a run or will Justin Rose finally get over his hump? […]
Golf
2 weeks ago
Golf
FOOTAGE: Heartbreak on the 18th hole as Shane Lowry misses out in Dubai
Golf