Rory McIlroy - 4 Time Major Winner

That 4 iron is exactly why people love Rory - majestic 😍

The follow up shot after the second dig out from Mickelson was top class to save Par though.

His wedges still look shaky but everything else was top class. His putting was excellent, he seemed to hole every "makeable" putt he had a look at.

Brilliant round by McIlroy.... out with Koepka and comes home 6 ahead of him & just 3 off the pace.

His front 9 was pure excellence, his putting was excellent and his driving was excellent.

Now 3 more of those rounds please Rory!!!

While it was a great round from Rory I'm still not convinced he has it to go through the 4 days with his best stuff and win. That round was built around his driver and putter. While it's no surprise to see he has sorted his driving (probably the best driver of the ball of all time), I don't think his wedge game was hectic yesterday. Lots of pulls, poor distance control. So while I'd love to say that I'd be confident in him going on and winning from this position I just don't think his entire game is bulletproof enough to get through to Sunday evening in front.

I hope I'm wrong

Hopefully conditions are good this morning as he’s an early starter

Rory played brilliantly until the inevitable mistake on the last hole, something that has been happening far too often with him when he gets into a position to really challenge.

Agreed that his wedges are a weakness but definitely improved of late.

If he can drive and putt like that all week he's one of the front runners.

I didn't catch much of Xander's round but I must get the highlights later. Saw a bunch of Ricky front 9, I can't remember the last time I saw him play that well and the putter was on fire. Maybe the zozo one he was close to winning last year.

Loads of golf to play just really not looking forward to the late finish.

Yeah, I'm giving him a pass over the past few weeks & months tbh, there's been just too much sh1te going on, & he's been unfortunate to be caught in the middle of it.

I think overall (~ all last season & most of this season until PIF gate loomed) his wedge play is much improved. I'd like to see him get back to his best this major & there is enough both great & good enough in his game right now to give encouragement imho.

Yes he has to put 4 rounds like yesterday together, yes that rough will cost him a few times, but if he drives, putts & hits his irons & wedges like yesterday for the next 3 days he'll be there or thereabouts & that's all you can ask of him imho.

P.s. as for errors, nearly every other player in the field made bigger & far worse errors than McIlroy yesterday & those last 3 holes are supposedly brutishly tough...

After putting in some back 9 tonight, nicely set up for weekend

Yeah nice bounce back after a ropey front 9, in decent shape going into the weekend.

Just the 5 and a half hours for the round, usual pga crap.

deleeeeeeeeeeeeete

He’s right there now in a great position, just hope Fowler doesn’t take the lead out too far. Even if he does there’s still 2 days to go and I’d be confident enough -15 or so will finish the job and he’s easily capable of getting to that.

I'd say 15 under would nearly win by a half dozen!

A couple of 69s would probably get the job done, course is only going to get harder from here

Yeah to be honest I’d say ye’re probably right that -10 or so will most likely do it. They’ll do everything they can to trick it up a bit for the weekend.

But no matter what they do there’s still a lot of birdie holes out there, especially on the front 9