McIlroy leads Irish charge as McDowell rues ‘sloppy’ round

RORY MCILROY took over the leading Irish honours after Graeme McDowell was reminded of the well-worn “a day is a long time in politics” adage in the second round of the WGC–Bridgestone Invitational in Akron, Ohio.

McIlroy carded an adventurous one under par 69 to end in a share of 13th place on three-under par while Ryder Cup team mate McDowell described his round as “sloppy” after walking from the Firestone course yesterday with a pair of bogeys in a 73 for a one-under par tally.

It left McDowell, along with playing partner Pádraig Harrington, trailing six strokes adrift of South African Retief Goosen who carded a 66 to move one clear of the field on seven-under par.

McDowell had ended Thursday’s round in brilliant manner with four straight birdies in a 66 but after four holes on day two, he had handed back two of those shots.

The Portrush pro managed to stem the bogey tide after putting a 7-iron to just six feet at his eighth hole ahead of laying-up short at the par five, second hole (11th) to take a bunker out of play. McDowell was rewarded when producing a deft chip shot from 60 yards out to just two feet for his only other birdie in the round.

However what then followed was in stark contrast to less than 24 hours earlier, with McDowell dropping shots at his 13th and then taking bogey at his closing two holes.

“I was very sloppy and just missed too many fairways and just put myself a little bit out of position,” he said.

“I wasn’t missing them by much but just sort of a few yards here and there, making it difficult to make birdies.

“I also didn’t scramble very well and I also putted like an idiot.

“So it’s bit disappointing to shoot a 73 as I had it going around the turn and just finished badly.”

McDowell is now focusing his game on being prepared for next week’s US PGA Championship in Wisconsin.

“It’s a different to other tournaments because you can go out thinking of going low every day rather than think about making the cut,” he said.

“This week the golf course just asks you to play good golf and this golf course really lets you know where your game is at.

“That’s definitely what you need before every Major Championship so it’s a great week before the US PGA.

“So the golf course leaves you under no illusions where you are at and you are getting four hard rounds of competition in the best of company.”

Harrington added a 70 to finish tied with his fellow Major champion with his day a mix of two birdies, at his first and 11th hole, but a hurtful double bogey at his 10th.

The triple Major winner found rough with his drive ahead of coming up 83-feet short with his second shot, before chipping to 22-feet before proceeding to three-putt for a double bogey six.

“It was one hole that hurt me out there today and I just hit a terrible tee shot at the 12th or my third,” he said.

“But my hydration was okay today because I definitely struggled with that big time yesterday.”

Then in somewhat of a surprise, the current World No. 15 admitted he has been distracted by thoughts of competing in next week’s US PGA Championship.

“I am a bit stuck in next week at the moment and I’m thinking about next week rather than this week, and it happens, as some weeks you do that, some weeks you don’t,” he said.

However Harrington indicated also there was no urgency relative to the last Major of the season, and the fact his last success was in the 2008 US PGA.

“Well, if there was a sense of urgency about next week I’d be tapering down now but I am doing the opposite,” he said.

“I am just working away at my game and know I need to do a bit better a job because it was a little frustrating out there. But such is life. I’ve got a Major next week.”

And World Number One, Tiger Woods refused to comment after adding a 72 to his opening 74 that left the seven-time Firestone champion trailing well down beyond 70th place in the 81-player field.

Phil Mickelson, who had moved into a share of second place on six-under par with two holes to play, now can go past Woods and claim the World No. 1 title in winning or finishing fourth at worst but then not to have Woods placed inside the top 38.

* Lee Westwood is facing a race against time to be fit to take his place in the Ryder Cup after ruling himself out of next week’s US PGA Championship.

A reoccurrence of a calf muscle injury has forced the current World No. 3 out of the WGC –Bridgestone Invitational and also the season’s final Major at Whistling Straits in Wisconsin.

The 37-year old English golfer advised officials of his withdrawal after ending well down the board in 76th place through two rounds in the 81-player Ohio field.

Westwood has a ruptured plantaris muscle in his right ankle that flared first in July’s French Open where he had to be rushed to a Paris hospital.

“I will be out for as long as it takes to get better,” he said.

“I am just hoping that it will be better in time for me to play in the Ryder Cup.”