CALEDON, Ontario — Masters champion Rory McIlroy tumbled out of the RBC Canadian Open on Friday along with his second-highest rating to par in any PGA Tour spherical of his profession, with Cameron Champ taking a two-stroke lead into the weekend within the remaining occasion earlier than the U.S. Open.
McIlroy shot an 8-over 78, making a large number of the fifth gap with a quadruple-bogey 8 in his highest rating since additionally taking pictures 78 final yr within the first spherical of the British Open. He had a double bogey on No. 11, 4 bogeys and two birdies.
He had a double bogey on No. 11, 4 bogeys and two birdies Friday.
“In fact it issues me,” McIlroy mentioned. “You do not need to shoot excessive scores just like the one I did as we speak. Nonetheless, I felt like I got here right here clearly with a brand new driver considering that that kind of was going to be good and resolve a number of the issues off the tee, but it surely did not.”
It is the fifth time McIlroy has carded an 8-over spherical and trails solely the 10-over 80 he shot within the opening spherical of the 2018 U.S. Open. It is his outright highest rating in any non-major PGA Tour spherical.
At 9 over, the two-time Canadian Open winner was 21 strokes behind Champ on the rain-softened North Course at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley. He missed the minimize by 12 pictures and will not play the weekend in a non-major tour occasion for the primary time for the reason that 2023 Gamers Championship.
“Clearly, going to Oakmont subsequent week, what you want to do greater than anything there may be hit fairways,” McIlroy mentioned. “Nonetheless kind of trying to find the kind of lacking piece off the tee.”
Champ had 4 birdies in a 68 within the morning a day after opening with a 62. He was at 12 beneath, enjoying the primary 36 holes and not using a bogey.
“It is firmed up slightly bit, however pretty much like yesterday,” Champ mentioned. “The fairways I really feel like had been firming up slightly bit. The greens barely, however fairly near how they had been yesterday.”
The three-time PGA Tour winner bought one of many final spots within the discipline after being the eighth alternate Friday when the commitments closed.
“I positively did not suppose I used to be getting in,” Champ mentioned.
Andrew Putnam was second after a bogey-free 62 on the course internet hosting the occasion for the primary time. He gained the 2018 Barracuda Championship for his lone tour title.
“I hit a variety of fairways, hit a variety of good iron pictures, too, and my putter was on hearth,” Putnam mentioned. “Just about did all the pieces proper. Did not actually make many errors.”
Thorbjorn Olesen of Denmark, tied for the first-round lead with Cristobal Del Solar after a 61, had a 70 to drop right into a tie for third at 9 beneath with Canadians Richard Lee (64) and Nick Taylor (65) and France’s Victor Perez (65).
Taylor gained the 2023 occasion at Oakdale.
“Hung in there,” Taylor mentioned. “Making a birdie on the final was essential to finish the day properly.”
Del Photo voltaic was 8 beneath after a 71. Shane Lowry (68) additionally was 8 beneath with Ryan Fox (66), Jake Knapp (69), Sam Burns (66) and Matteo Manassero (65).
Data from ESPN Analysis and The Related Press was used on this report.
