VIRGINIA WATER, England (AP) Rory McIlroy shot a 7-under 65 to move into the second-round lead at the BMW PGA Championship on Friday.
So good was McIlroy’s bogey-free round at Wentworth that playing partner Alex Noren, the defending champion, called it ”the best round I’ve ever seen.”
”I’m about to quit golf, I think,” joked Noren, whose own round of 68 left him five shots off the pace on 7 under par alongside Robert Rock and Kiradech Aphibarnrat.
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McIlroy made seven birdies, including four straight from No. 12. Like in the first round, he failed to pick up any shots on the final two holes – both par fives – but the four-time major winner still described his play as up there with his best in 2018 ”ball-striking-wise.”
”I had everything sort of firing today,” said the former top-ranked player, who matched his career-low score at Wentworth although the previous 65 was in 2009 before the course changes the following year.
”Every tournament is a big tournament, but the more I can play well and the more confidence I can build going into those majors the better.”
At 12 under par, McIlroy led by three shots over Englishman Sam Horsfield, who followed up a 67 with a 68. European No. 1 Tommy Fleetwood is a shot further back after making birdie on the last three holes to shoot 66.