Rory McIlroy boosted his chances of winning a third consecutive RBC Canadian Open title with a clear second-round 67 in Ontario amid the ongoing fallout from the PGA Tour’s controversial merger with LIV Golf.
McIlroy recorded five birdies at Oakdale Golf and Country Club to move to six under par, three shots shy of a halfway lead held by China’s Carl Yuan.
The world number three initially won the tournament by seven strokes in 2019 but it was canceled in 2020 and 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. McIlroy carded a final 62 to win at St George’s 12 months ago.
Asked about his attempt to win the title for the third time on a third different course, McIlroy said: “I like it.
“I like to react to what I see there and to the goals. And I’m not a great player to play a memory course.
Rory McIlroy boosted his chances of winning a third consecutive RBC Canadian Open title on Friday
Fans fill the stands to watch Rory McIlroy play the hockey-themed 14th tee
“There are certain venues on tour that I go back to and play well, but it’s not really because I remember how putts break or where to miss it. It’s just that I feel comfortable Rounds of 68 and 67 gave Yuan a one shot lead over local favorite Corey Conners, CT Pan and England pair Tyrrell Hatton and Aaron Rai.
Hatton, who birdied six in seven holes from the seventh in his 64, said: “A lot of putts went in which was good.
‘The greens were a bit funky this afternoon; I made it to my start line, they got away from the line and luckily they got back on the line and got in. I’m just happy to see the ball go in the hole and have a decent day.
Rai was three over after six holes of his first round but played the next 30 in 11 under in pursuit of his first PGA Tour title.
“It’s a fun game and sometimes you can play well, but sometimes have doubts in your mind and not feel amazing on certain shots,” Rai said.
“You can sometimes play pretty badly, but then flip a switch in the mind and feel very positive about what you’re doing and what’s ahead of you.
“So I think that was the biggest thing that even on hole number seven (Thursday), even though I was three years old, I felt pretty calm and pretty settled in the situation we were in. I think that was the key to then finish the round very strongly.’
Chinese Carl Yuan holds the tournament lead after two rounds at -9
It’s been a tough week for McIlroy.
An unnamed LIV Golf executive hit out at him when he discussed the future of the breakaway competition amid its merger with the PGA Tour.
Following the news that the PIF and PGA would be combining their business ventures, speculation abounded regarding LIV’s future – or what the intentions were behind the rebel circuit in the first place.
It’s possible the LIV format will stay in place – according to golf writer Alan Shipnuck – with some events played on weeks when there’s no traditional PGA event while others will be co-sanctioned as part of it. of the unified calendar.
It provides an opportunity for PGA members who weren’t part of LIV to join the team format and participate…well, not everyone, as one LIV executive explains.
‘Now we can finally get Hideki [Matsuyama] and Jon Rahm. I would say every big name on the PGA Tour will get an offer. Except Rory. Nobody wants that little b**** on their team,’ the exec told Shipnuck.
An anonymous LIV Golf executive called Rory McIlroy a ‘little b****’ in reference to golfers joining
It has been a victory lap week for LIV Golf and its leader, Yasir Al-Rumayyan of the Saudi PIF
In the aftermath of the merger, McIlroy remained a staunch hater of the Saudi-backed league, saying on Wednesday: “I hope it goes away, and I would fully expect it to.”
McIlroy went on to say, “All I’ve tried to do is protect what the PGA Tour is and what the PGA Tour stands for.”
“Going forward, there may be a team element, and you’re going to see, maybe me, maybe anybody else playing in some kind of team golf. But I don’t think not that it will look like LIV, and I think that’s a good thing.
The Irishman also said his efforts to protect the PGA – only for them to capitulate to the Saudis – made him feel like a “sacrificial lamb”.
As for the future of the 54-hole event, shotgun start, team format, it might not go away as easily as McIlroy thinks.
According to Shipnuck, since the announcement of the merger, the phone of LIV’s global head of partnerships, Monica Fee, has been “ringing nonstop.”
Companies such as Marriott, Anheuser-Busch and ESPN made calls after LIV secured the proverbial PGA Tour endorsement through the merger.
Even Fox is interested – although Rupert Murdoch’s company turned down an offer to broadcast the events of the Rebel Tour live when it was offered before the start of this season.
