McIlroy charges but Clark clings to Canadian Open lead
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Wyndham Clark maintained a one-stroke lead after second round of the US PGA Tour's Canadian Open.
TORONTO (AFP) - Rory McIlroy charged into contention but American Wyndham Clark fired a level par 70 to maintain a one-stroke lead after Friday s second round of the US PGA Tour s Canadian Open.
World number 293 Clark, who led by one stroke after day one, made bogeys on two of the last four holes to stand on seven-under 133 after 36 holes at St George s Golf and Country Club in suburban Toronto.
"Overall I played really good. I felt really confident with my game," Clark said. "I had some little mishaps coming in, but other than that I played some great golf for 36 holes. If I do that again, I ll have a great chance come Sunday."
Northern Ireland s eighth-ranked McIlroy -- the 2019 winner and defending champion after Covid-19 caused a two-year hiatus -- birdied two of the last four holes to shoot 68 and share second on 134 with England s Matthew Fitzpatrick and Americans Keith Mitchell, Jim Knous and Alex Smalley.
Four-time major winner McIlroy sank an eight-foot birdie putt at the par-5 15th and rolled in a 23-foot birdie putt at 17 before parring the last with a clutch four-foot putt.
"Overall it was a good score," McIlroy said. "I scrambled well when I needed to. I didn t really take advantage of how well I hit it off the tee. But overall I felt a couple under was a fair reflection of how the day went."
Fitzpatrick, ranked 17th, led by two but made double bogey at the 14th and bogeys on the last three holes.
"Just didn t hole the putts I needed to on the last three," Fitzpatrick said. "Just pathetic. Yeah, just pathetic finish really with the putter.
"Disappointing finish, but definitely not out of it."
The seven-time DP World Tour winner seeks her first PGA victory after sharing fifth at last month s PGA Championship for his best major finish.
Clark, 28, chases his first US PGA victory as well, his best finish a runner-up effort at the 2020 Bermuda Championship.
Clark hit only eight greens in regulation, but backed his "great" short game and putting.
- Pretty awesome finish -
Fitzpatrick reeled off three birdies in a row thanks to five-foot putts at the par-5 ninth and par-5 11th sandwiched around a 15-footer at the par-4 10th, reaching 10-under par.
But Fitzpatrick needed four shots to reach the fringe at the par-4 14th on the way to a double bogey, then followed an 11-foot birdie putt at the par-5 15th with three bogeys.
His troubles left the lead to Clark, who made birdie putts from just inside five feet at the par-3 eighth and 11, but missed the green at 12 and made his first bogey of the week.
Clark knocked in a nine-footer from the fringe to birdie the par-4 14th, but then fell back with back-to-back bogeys, sinking a nine-foot bogey putt at 15 but missing a par putt half as long at the par-3 16th.
At 18, Clark had a "semi-plugged" bunker lie but popped out to four feet and saved par to keep the lead.
"I would love to say I was trying to do what I did," Clark said. "It was definitely the best save I ve had of the year. It was pretty awesome."
