Saudi students excel at ISEF 2024, claim nine special awards    Garuda incident has no impact on Hajj pilgrim transport, NTSC says    Saudi Arabia's RGA implements innovative road technology for Hajj season    Russia not seeking Kharkiv capture, claims Putin    Star golfer Scottie Scheffler arrested over alleged assault on police officer    Saudi Arabia joins International Agency for Research on Cancer    French police kill man trying to burn Rouen synagogue    US confirms first aid trucks arrive via Gaza pier    Israel accuses South Africa of false claims at ICJ    Row erupts over portraits of Australia's richest woman    Al-Ittihad's victory drought continues, misses chance to qualify for ACL elite    Al Ittihad CEO frustrated with 'not positive' SPL feedback, announces internal assessment    Saudi Arabia, US forge new pathways in energy cooperation with roadmap    Saudi taekwondo team makes history with first Asian championship golds    Cognite Data Fusion now available on Google Cloud in Saudi Arabia    Franco-Saudi seminar sparks new initiatives in railway and smart mobility development    Crown Prince: Saudi Arabia supports establishment of an internationally recognized Palestine State Security of the Red Sea region highlighted as Arab Summit begins in Manama    British Airways resumes flights to Jeddah after five-year break    Indian spices face heat over global safety concerns    Glioblastoma: Top Australian doctor remains brain cancer-free after a year    JK Rowling in 'arrest me' challenge over hate crime law    Trump's Bible endorsement raises concern in Christian religious circles    Hollywood icon Will Smith shares his profound admiration for Holy Qur'an    We have celebrated Founding Day for three years - but it has been with us for 300    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



McIlroy surges to huge lead
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 18 - 06 - 2011

BETHESDA, Maryland: Rory McIlroy completed the lowest 36-hole total in US Open history Friday despite a double-bogey finish that brought back memories of similar major leads the Ulsterman has squandered.
McIlroy fired a five-under par 66 to stand on 11-under 131 after two rounds at Congressional Country Club, firing five birdies and an eagle before finding water at 18 to settle for an eight-shot lead late in the second round.
“It would have been great to get up and down for bogey. But you can't dwell on it,” McIlroy said. “I played 35 very good holes and that's what I need to focus on.”
The Northern Ireland prodigy broke the old US Open 36-hole mark of 132 set in 2009 by American Ricky Barnes, but had he closed with a par he would have broken the 36-hole major record of 130 by Nick Faldo at the 1992 British Open.
“It has been very, very good,” McIlroy said. “It's very nearly the best I can play.”
But McIlroy, a contender for the fourth major in a row, has been down this path before and been found wanting.
McIlroy opened with a 65 to co-lead the Masters in April, led by four after 54 holes and by one with nine to play before a back-nine fade to an 80. He led last year's British Open after a 63 but had an 80 in a wind-swept round two.
“I took a few things away from the Masters that I felt I could incorporate into my game and I said we'll find out how they go when I get myself into that position again,” McIlroy said.
“We'll see how it goes over the next couple of days.”
South Korean Yang Yong-Eun birdied the par-3 seventh and par-5 ninth to seize second place on five-under, six back of McIlroy, when play was halted by lightning in the area as he prepared to start the back nine.
Spain's Sergio Garcia and Americans Zach Johnson, Brandt Snedeker and Robert Garrigus shared third in the clubhouse on 140, nine adrift of McIlroy.
“If he keeps playing the way he's playing, we're all playing for second,” Snedeker said.
No American holds a major title and if none wins this week, it will mark the longest run of majors in the modern era without a US winner.
McIlroy, 22, has a chance to match the all-time 36-hole lead in a major, the nine-stroke edge of Henry Cotton from the 1934 British Open and the 36-hole US Open record lead of six shots by Woods in 2000 at Pebble Beach.
On a morning when no rival could mount a challenge, McIlroy was astonishing and he grabbed a stranglehold on the event with his amazing 113-yard wedge shot from the eighth fairway.
McIlroy launched the ball to the back fringe of the green and watched from the fairway as the ball slowly rolled back 25 feet and into the cup.
Lifting his arms into the air, McIlroy looked skyward and smiled as playing partner Phil Mickelson could only applaud in amazement at the feat by his playing partner.
McIlroy became the first man to reach 13-under par at any stage in US Open history with a birdie at 17, one better than the old mark set by Gil Morgan in the third round in 1992 and matched by Tiger Woods in the final round in 2000.
But then came the mishap on 18 after a tee shot pulled into the left rough. “I got a bit of grass caught between the club face and the ball and it just turned over a little bit,” McIlroy said. “Unfortunately it went into the water. Just one of those things.”
Magical McIlroy birdied the par-4 fourth and par-5 sixth and followed his eagle with birdies at 14, 16 and 17. At the par-5 16th, McIlroy drove the green in two, missed a 12-foot eagle bid and settled for a tap-in birdie.


Clic here to read the story from its source.