McIlroy’s brilliance drives rivals to distraction

WENTWORTH, United Kingdom: Northern Irish golf star Rory McIlroy played such a sublime second round of golf at the PGA Championship on Friday he had defending champion Alex Noren quipping about early retirement.

The 29-year-old quadruple major winner carded a bogey free seven-under par 65 to move to 12 under and a three-shot lead over young Englishman Sam Horsfield and French journeyman Sebastien Gros, who came in late in the day with a superb 66.

Noren — who played in the same group as the Ulsterman and, like him and playing partner Lee Westwood, stayed clear of bogeys — may have been joking about quitting. But he was in awe of McIlroy’s round.

“That’s the best round I’ve ever seen. I’m about to quit golf I think,” said Noren.

Noren sits five shots off McIlroy but the Swede will be well aware that after his stunning 62 last year, which saw him come from way off the pace to seal victory, anything is possible.

McIlroy’s only disappointment was parring the final two holes, both par fives, as he had done on Thursday but he was one of many who came away with nothing from them with Horsfield dropping a shot on the 1 7th and parring the 18th.

Horsfield, who has had an encouraging start in his rookie season posting two top-four finishes, said he could cope with the pressure at being among the frontrunners at such a high profile event.

“I think any time you’re playing on the weekend and you’re up there near Rory, I think you’re going to be doing pretty well,” said Horsfield.

Horsfield’s gut feeling is the title will come down to who putts best. If that proves the case Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat — five shots off McIlroy — should be confident.

One man who knows McIlroy inside out is his fellow Northern Irishman Graeme McDowell. He said chasing down McIlroy would be a tough ask: “You know, when Rory is on his game, he’s incredibly tough to catch.

“I know he likes it around here, having won here in the past, and these are perfect conditions for him. Obviously no wind, target golf; he can use his length and his ball flight control to his great advantage.”