Bogey ruins Rory McIlroy record bid

Rory McIlroy surged into Players Championship contention at TPC Sawgrass last night but he was left cursing the ninth hole after spurning a shot at a course-record 62 there.

Starting the day at level par having felt he got the worst of the weather with a late first-round tee time on Thursday, McIlroy set about his second round from the 10th tee like a man possessed, matching Shane Lowry’s opening-day back-nine 29 in superb fashion as he eagled the par-five 16th, his seventh, by holing a 53-foot putt.

By the time the world number three reached his last hole, the par-five ninth, he had accumulated seven birdies in addition to the eagle and needed just one more to card a new course record of 62.