McIlroy, back in PGA hunt, blames bad setup for lead logjam
Rory McIlroy revived his hopes of winning the PGA Championship with improved driving and a bogey-free round on Friday, then blamed a logjammed leaderboard on a poor course set-up.McIlroy ripped the course set-up for creating the lead logjam.
World number two Rory McIlroy fired a bogey-free three-under par 67 to stand five strokes off the lead after 36 holes at the PGA Championship at Aronimink (Emilee Chinn) Rory McIlroy revived his hopes of winning the PGA Championship with improved driving and a bogey-free round on Friday, then blamed a logjammed leaderboard on a poor course set-up. World number two McIlroy, coming off a Masters victory last month, fired a three-under-par 67 to stand on one-over 141 for 36 holes at formidable Aronimink. After spending hours on the driving range following his 74 on Thursday, when he closed with four bogeys in a row, McIlroy found what he needed to return to contention, even while sharing 30th.
"At five back I do feel like I'm right in the tournament and that's really what I wanted to do today was to just get myself back in it, and I feel like I've done that," McIlroy said. The six-time major winner from Northern Ireland said the PGA of America has protected the course with tough pin placements on its' sloping greens, but that should lead to easier weekend hole spots. "It has been hard to make birdies out there because one, the wind the last couple days, but also where they have put these hole locations," McIlroy said.
"I feel like they have really tried to protect the course the first couple of days, so it seems like they have used up a lot of the really hard ones. " That could provide inspiration for everyone who made the cut, McIlroy said. "A little bit calmer conditions and maybe a couple more favorable hole locations, I think everyone has got to feel like they have got a chance," he said.
"Yes, it's bunched, but you get on a run with wedges on that front nine and you shoot 4-, 5-under and all of a sudden you're right in the thick of things. " McIlroy ripped the course set-up for creating the lead logjam. "A bunched leaderboard like this, I think it's a sign of not a great setup, because it hasn't really enabled anyone to separate themselves," McIlroy said.