Rory McIlroy fails to make progress in Players Championship

World No. 1 Rory McIlroy looked assured of scoring a points victory over newest rival Jordan Spieth on the second day of the lucrative Players Championship at Ponte Vedre Beach in Florida.

McIlroy headed into the back nine on the TPC Sawgrass course remaining at his round two starting score of three under par while the World No. 2 ranked Spieth stayed at three over also heading to his inward half.

McIlroy struggled early on with five opening pars before having to play a shot off a bitumen cart path right at the sixth in taking bogey before landing a super 76-yard wedge shot to just two feet for birdie at the ninth.