PONTE VEDRA, Fla. — Rory McIlroy, unhealthy again, questionable type and all, survived to play the weekend within the Gamers Championship on Friday.
McIlroy, who was a query mark to even play at TPC Sawgrass this week after he was pressured to withdraw from the Arnold Palmer Invitational with a again damage final Saturday, birdied his ultimate gap on Friday to safe a tee time in Saturday’s third spherical.
His birdie 4 on the par-5 ninth gap, his final of the day, received him to 1-over par and safely contained in the cutline.
“I’m completely happy to be right here for the weekend,’’ McIlroy stated. “I’m completely happy to get two extra runs at it. It will have sucked to be going residence this afternoon, so to hold round and play two extra days, that’s a win.’’
McIlroy stated NBC on-course announcer Jim “Bones’’ Mackay requested him as they walked down the ninth fairway what his enjoying plans have been earlier than the Masters.
“I stated, ‘Bones, I’ll inform you after this gap; there’s lots using on this golf gap,’ ’’ McIlroy stated. “Clearly, I needed to make the minimize, in fact. In fact, you wish to be right here for the weekend.’’
He stated a missed minimize “does wound your satisfaction.’’
McIlroy additionally revealed that, had he missed the minimize, he would have added a event to his schedule earlier than the Masters.
For the second consecutive day, Jordan Spieth had it going. And for the second consecutive spherical, he threw away useful strokes on his ultimate gap.
On Friday, he shot 3-under on his first 9 holes and received to 5-under for the event, in competition. Then he took a double bogey 7 on his ultimate gap, No. 9.
It was the second consecutive day he doubled his final gap. On Thursday, he hit his tee shot into the water on 18 and took double.
“It was only a bummer, each days to complete with doubles,’’ he stated. “I simply performed higher than that. I’ve been enjoying very well.’’
A reporter then requested Spieth if he’ll suppose principally concerning the good issues he did within the spherical as a substitute of the end. “By no means,’’ Spieth stated, including, “Have you ever ever performed golf?’’
No Phil Mickelson beeper for Austin Smotherman.
Austin Smotherman, who’s 5-under par coming into the weekend, stated his spouse is because of give start to their third youngster on March 23, however he plans to maintain enjoying.
“I left a pair weeks in the past to go play the Florida swing, and my job was simply to go play golf till I received again to hopefully Houston and will simply drive as much as Dallas if the infant got here then,’’ he stated. “My spouse’s giving me the OK to play this week, simply preserve rolling regardless of if I used to be taking pictures 5-under or 5-over, I assume.”
“The plan’s to nonetheless play Valspar subsequent week. So simply preserve enjoying golf, go have a child every time the infant exhibits up. She’s not getting induced or something, so we’re simply form of letting it roll. Our first two (kids) have been per week and two weeks late.’’
Requested what the plan is that if she’s about to present start whereas he’s in competition, Smotherman stated, “I don’t know what she’s going to do. She doesn’t know if she’s going to try to contact me, contact my caddie, after which determine if he relays the data or if I simply play. I’m simply enjoying golf.’’
