Rory McIlroy charges back into BMW Championship Contention

How Rory McIlroy turned his week around

The Holywood man needed a response after an eight-over finish at last week’s St Jude Championship. He opened this week with a six-under round for a share of the lead and backed it up with a 69 on Friday.

The world number two turned at one under after a birdie at the par-three second and another at the 11th, then found a gear with four birdies from the 13th, sandwiched by a bogey at the 14th.

He bunkered both shots at the last, almost chipped in and saved par anyway. Clark double-bogeyed the first, eagled the eighth and closed with a 65.

The back-to-back Masters champion admitted it was a grind.

“I think I needed to be patient the last three days, because my game has been good in parts, but then it has been a struggle in other ways," McIlroy said.

"I didn’t hit my first fairway today until the 10th hole, playing this golf course from the rough isn’t fun, but I hung in there.

"My short game saved me a couple of times and I got some momentum coming in.

“It’s going to take a heroic effort from one of us to catch Wyndham,” he added.

Per RTÉ Sport, Patrick Cantlay is alongside him at 12 under, with Chris Gotterup and Gary Woodland a shot back and world number one Scottie Scheffler on five under after a 68.

The42 noted JJ Spaun’s challenge faded.