It wasn’t a pretty round for McIlroy, but the highlight was a Houdini-like escape on the 18th hole.
Advertisement
Dustin Johnson had a 66 and Bubba Watson played bogey-free in his round of 68.
Countryman Jason Kokrak, who was the overnight leader, is Watson’s nearest challenger a shot back after a one-under-par 70.
With it getting so bunched, getting off to a good start, kind of imperative, just because someone else will, or a few guys probably will. There’s a 3-3-3 start or a 3-4-3 start quite easily for everyone, and that would be good to stay with them. “The greens were going to be so much easier to putt on than in the afternoon, so I figured I would be able to roll it a bit better and both happened”. He has made only three bogeys in 54 holes.
Rory McIlroy said at the start of the week that the Northern Trust Open was effectively the start of his road to the Masters. However, his round became a lot more turbulent after that as he made three bogeys during the next five holes before concluding his round with birdies at the seventh and ninth. Reavie had a three-shot lead at one point on the back nine, courtesy of a perfectly placed drive that led to eagle on No. 2. He managed to find the green at the finishing hole, leaving a hard 18-foot par putt that the 18th tower broadcast team seemed to think wasn’t going to drop. “A chip-in; you’re going to have to do something because it’s one bounce one way or the other to win or lose”.
McIlroy picked up further shots at 15 and 17 either side of a missed chance from seven feet at the 16th, and he saved his best putt of the round for the last to remain in a share of fifth alongside Kevin Chappell, KJ Choi, Adam Scott and Marc Leishman.
“I’m not throwing this tournament away”, he said. It’s something you have to learn if you’re lucky enough to get there.
Watson took the lead with a simple up-and-down from just short of the par-5 17th, but from the left rough, he hooked his approach down the hill on the 18th. He has that slight pause at the top of his swing, before he just uncoils through the ball.
Matsuyama, who won in Phoenix two weeks ago, made five birdies on the front nine to get into the mix, only to put four 5s on his card on the back nine. Johnson was bombing shots off the tee again at Riviera.
“I can certainly take positives out of today’s round”, he said of a performance that yielded eight birdies and five bogeys. Well be fine, he said.As for Harrington?He shot a 70 in white, classic-style Foot-Joys.
Leading contenders Lydia Ko and Karrie Webb were one stroke off the lead at The Grange’s West course.
Spieth needed a lot of birdies and a flawless round Friday to overcome a 79, his highest score ever in the opening round.
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) Australia’s Nathan Holman shot a 6-under 65 at Royal Selangor to take a two-stroke lead in the Maybank Championship Malaysia.
Advertisement
The tournament is sanctioned by the European and Asian tours.
