Late blemish can't take shine off McIlroy's Friday surge at Sawgrass

The Irishman reeled off six birdies in 11 holes to start his second round at the Players and is well positioned as the winds come in for the weekend

CLOSE EYE: Rory McIlroy watches his tee shot on the third hole during the second round of The Players Championship golf tournament Friday, March 14, 2025, in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

Despite a couple of sloppy late bogeys that kept Rory McIlroy from owning a share of the 36-hole lead, the former Players Championship winner remains well-positioned for a weekend assault in what could be a wind-whipped TPC Sawgrass.

McIlroy posted a 4-under 68 on Friday morning, slipping off the top of the leaderboard at one point at 9-under overall still only two shots behind co-leaders Min Woo Lee and Akshay Bhatia in the PGA Tour’s flagship event. McIlroy came home in 37 on the front side after going out in 31 on the back.