In-form McIlroy fires 63 to charge into Crans-Montana contention
Last updated on: 31 August,2019 08:52 am
McIlroy fired a seven-under-par 63 in the second round of the European Masters.
CRANS-MONTANA (AFP) - Rory McIlroy continued his excellent recent form by firing a seven-under-par 63 in the second round of the European Masters on Friday to move one shot behind halfway leader Gavin Green in Switzerland.
The four-time major champion, who won the PGA Tour s Tour Championship and the $15 million FedEx Cup prize last weekend, made three bogeys in his first 12 holes, but stormed home with a four-hole run of three birdies and an eagle.
"Even if I do make a bogey, I m having a good time here and enjoying myself," the world number two told Sky Sports.
"That s probably why I finished like I did there, despite dropping three shots in my opening 12 holes."
The Northern Irishman came agonisingly close to lifting his maiden European Tour title at Crans-Montana as a 19-year-old in 2008, but missed a short par putt for victory before losing to unheralded Frenchman Jeff Lucquin in a playoff.
McIlroy is tied with four other players on 10-under overall just behind Green on a strong leaderboard.
"I m excited. It s good, I ve given myself another chance to win," said McIlroy.
"It would have been easy for me to take my foot off the gas after last week. I ve given myself a good chance to win this tournament, which I ve come close to winning before."
Malaysian Green followed up his opening-round 65 with a 64 on Friday to boost his hopes of a first European Tour success.
The world number 209 sits just one stroke ahead of a group of five -- McIlroy, Tommy Fleetwood, Andres Romero, Matthias Schwab and Wade Ormsby.
Green said he was comfortable playing at 1,500m altitude due to his experience as a student in the United States.
"The altitude is similar to where I went to university in New Mexico, Albuquerque, it s a few thousand feet too. I m pretty used to how altitude works," he said.
The 13th-ranked Fleetwood also played the Tour Championship at East Lake last week, and has recorded successive 65s at Crans-Montana.
The popular Englishman was bogey-free for his second round, rolling in an eagle on the par-five 15th.
"Of course it s difficult. Nothing in life is supposed to come easy," said Fleetwood, who is yet to win this year.
"It s just nice to keep putting myself in positions and hopefully I ll start winning more. Maybe that will start this week."