I will confess that even after a brilliant recovery from Rory McIlroy yesterday, I’m still struggle to believe he will deliver the magic that would be one of the great sporting triumphs of recent times.
Without those four dropped shots on the back nine of his opening round, McIlroy would be out in front right now. The fact he doesn’t think like that is a very good thing, and you have to admire him for how he keeps picking himself up off the floor.
This is what McIlroy said immediately after his brilliant 66 on Friday, which means he will start today within two shots of the overnight leader.
💬 “I don’t think I proved anything. If anything, I just backed up the belief I have in myself and the belief I’m as resilient as anyone else out here.
“I’ve been really proud of how resilient I’ve been the whole way throughout my career and today was just another example of that.
“Golf tournaments are so long and there’s so much that can happen, even in the next 36 holes. My mindset was actually, I shot even-par (Thursday), I probably need to get to somewhere between 12- and 15-under to win this tournament — and there was plenty of time to do that.”
So, pick up nine more shots and the green jacket is his?