A look at the highlights from Rory McIlroy’s Round 2 at The Masters
Rory McIlroy is back in familiar territory.
"Watch @McIlroyRory‘s first round of #themasters in under three minutes.https://t.co/EVPPxtqi2L— Masters Tournament (@TheMasters) April 8, 2016"
A double bogey on the fourth hole was an early hiccup to what proved to be an otherwise outstanding round, considering the conditions at a very windy Augusta National. Early bogeys did not derail a stellar finish, leaving him just within a few shots of the lead heading into Saturday.
Following the double on 4, McIlroy’s early troubles continued on the fifth hole, when he flew the green on his second shot and dubbed a chip that came up just short of the putting surface, leading to another bogey.
McIlroy settled down to par the next six holes, but another bogey on the par-4 11th hole left him at even par for the tournament, and at the time seven strokes behind leader Jordan Spieth, who was just beginning his second round at the time.
But things would turn around the final six holes.
First, the 13th, where a second shot rocketed over the green, but fortunately managed to catch a sprinkler head, keeping the ball from rolling down the slope. After a drop from just off the green, he chipped to within five feet of the hole and managed to make birdie.
Entering the 15th hole at one under par, McIlroy would crush his drive and hit a 235-yard second shot onto the green, setting up a 35-foot eagle try. He left the putt just inches from the cup, leaving a tap-in birdie to move back to red numbers for the tournament.
A 40-foot birdie putt on the par-3 16th, by far his longest putt of the day, moved him to three under, where he would finish after pars on 17 and 18.
"Watch @McIlroyRory make a 39-foot birdie putt on No. 16 to move into solo second. #themasters https://t.co/BBE7JvtXLy— Masters Tournament (@TheMasters) April 8, 2016"
McIlroy entered the clubhouse alone in second place with several players, including current leader Spieth, still on the course. The Masters is the last tournament McIlroy needs to win in order to complete the career grand slam.
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