Rory McIlroy trails former delivery driver by four after 36 holes at Wentworth
World No.3 Rory McIlroy will start the third round of the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth four shots behind the leader Matthew Baldwin.
M. Baldwin | -13 |
N. Norgaard | -11 |
A. Rozner | -10 |
R. McIlroy | -9 |
B. Horschel | -8 |
M. Manassero | -8 |
H. Hall | -7 |
Y. Paul | -7 |
A. Cockerill | -7 |
R. MacIntyre | -6 |
Rory McIlroy trails England's Matthew Baldwin by four strokes after 36 holes at the BMW PGA Championship.
McIlroy added a scrappy second round of 4-under 68 to his opening 67 at Wentworth on Friday afternoon in Surrey.
It means the Northern Irishman is on 9-under par at the halfway point, four strokes adrift of surprise leader Baldwin.
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McIlroy last won the flagship event on the DP World Tour in 2014 and is seeking to win the order of merit a record six times this year.
The 35-year-old won the Race to Dubai in 2012, 2014, 2015, 2022 and 2023.
"I played very solid," McIlroy said after narrowly missing an eagle putt at the last hole.
"I didn't make too many mistakes. I had a couple of nice up and downs.
"It was nice to birdie two out of the last three holes and get away with a par again on 17."
Related: McIlroy fires message to critics after moving into BMW PGA contention
McIlroy was alluding to the fact he hit a poor tee shot well left and had to sink a nine-footer for par.
Baldwin earlier emerged from a one-hour weather delay in the morning wave to card a stunning 6-under 66, his only blemish coming at the par-4 11th.
The 38-year-old, who turned pro in 2008, is looking to win on the DP World Tour for the second time in his career.
His last victory came at the 2023 SDC Championship in South Africa.
At times, he has considered quitting the game altogether.
Prior to the 2022 Challenge Tour season, he worked as an Amazon delivery driver.
But he gave up the gig after he got his full card back.
"I learned a lot from that," he told reporters.
"I learned that there are other things that I could do in life, but I also learned that I really wanted to play golf."
Asked how he spent the weather delay, Baldwin said he relaxed with friends and ate some carrot sticks.
[I am] incredibly proud of how I've played so far," he added.
"There's a long way to go. [I have just got to] keep doing the same things [and it] should be a good week.
Former champion Billy Horschel sits in a tie for fifth on 8-under, whilst England's Tommy Fleetwood and Robert MacIntyre are one stroke further behind.
Shane Lowry is among a group of 12 players on 6-under.
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