McIlroy remains in control

Rory McIlroy gives a little first pump of satisfaction after his par save at the seventh. 

Patience might be a virtue and good putting a must, but Rory McIlroy pointed to distance control as the key to his move into contention for the Masters and the chance to become the first European to complete the career Grand Slam.

The Co Down man (28) goes into the weekend on four-under-par, just five shots behind Patrick Reed after carding a 71 that might have been a 73 or 74 in another life.

There was a time when firm, fast and blustery conditions at Augusta National might have tried the patience of the pride of Holywood Golf Club.

But using the free-flowing putting stroke he honed with Brad Faxon at the Bear's Club just three weeks ago, he made two 30 footers for birdie in a four-birdie round and six putts of between five and seven feet for par at crucial stages.

"I think those two things have been a big key," he said of his comfort levels

"I think distance control has been a little bit better with either the firmness of the greens or the wind conditions.  So the distance control has been good. 

'But yeah, I've held putts that have kept momentum in the round going.  The par putt on seven today, the par putt on 10, the par putt on 11, those are huge putts.  

"They are bigger than some of the birdie putts because that just keeps you going and keeps you in the right frame of mind.  Those two parts of my game have been really good over the last couple days."

With Jordan Spieth carding a 74 to slip back to four-under, McIlroy was a little disappointed that he failed to convert birdie putts from around 12 feet on the last two holes.

But given how tough the course played for the morning starters, he was more than pleased that he remained patient.

Asked what advice he might have given his younger self if he were in the same position, he said: "Stay patient. Birdie the par 5s. Keep your putts on the high side of the hole. Hope for the best."

Reed — McIlroy's nemesis in the singles at the last Ryder Cup — made nine birdies in an impressive 66 to lead by two shots on nine-under-par from the Australian Marc Leishman (67) with Sweden's Henrik Stenson four behind on five-under after a 70.

McIlroy shares fourth place on four-under with Spieth but there are a host of top players within shouting distance of the leaders.

World No 1 Dustin Johnson shot 68 and US PGA champion Justin Thomas a 67 to share sixth in three-under, then come Tony Finau, Ricky Fowler and Louis Oosthuizen.

With Tiger Woods 13 shots behind on four-over after a 75, McIlroy has more majors than anyone else in contention and having won every major he's played when ranked in the top five after the first round, he expects to remain in the mix right to the end.

"I think once you get yourself up there, you're playing well enough after day one that if you continue that good play, you should be up there for the rest of the tournament," said McIlroy, who will partner Stenson in the penultimate group on Saturday. 

"I've always felt comfortable being up around the lead.  It's a place that I'm thankfully quite familiar with and know how to deal with."

He three-putted the first for bogey but made a 30 footer for birdie at the second and another after a big drive left a simple pitch at the third.

He went long at the fourth dropped a shot but saved par from five feet at the fifth and while he also overshot the par-three sixth and dropped another shot, he made par from seven feet at the seventh, seven feet at the 10th and eight feet at the 11th.

Those putts kept his momentum going and he quickly birdied the 13th and 14th before flying 25 yards long at the 15th after a subtle change of wind direction

" That's why it's so tricky because a lot of these holes run parallel to each other that should be just a straight‑across wind but if it goes a tiny bit this way or a tiny bit that way, it makes you look stupid," he said. "So small, small fractions make a big difference."

The forecast is for wind and rain on Saturday, which may give McIlroy a chance to open his shoulders and attack.

"It makes it all the more pleasing that I'm up there near the lead," he said. "Again, I said this yesterday; it's such a hard golf course to chase on.  You start to go for pins and you start chasing it, that's when you can bring in some trouble and make some mistakes. 

"Happy with the position I'm in, and whatever weather comes our way tomorrow, I feel like I'll be able to handle it and keep myself near the top of the leaderboard, and it's going to be an exciting weekend."

from News - Irish Golf Desk https://ift.tt/2qbKXY9