McIlroy well off US PGA pace

Rory McIlroy's chances of claiming a fifth major are all-but over after he struggled to a one-over-par 72 on the second day in the US PGA at Quail Hollow.

The Northern Irishman struggled at times and was in danger in missing the cut after leaking four shots in the space of five holes.

The 28-year-old rallied with back-to-back birdies on the next two holes but a late missed putt for birdie on the ninth, his final hole of the day, left him ten shots off the early mark set by Kevin Kisner on -8.

A second consecutive 67 left the American well in control of the tournament with Rickie Fowler one of his closest challengers on three under.

But it was his playing partner McIlroy who is effectively out of the hunt after a one-over 72.

"I thought conditions were just as tough, if not tougher this morning, as they were yesterday," he said.

"I was battling. I was scrambling well to be under par for that back nine. I probably didn't quite hit it as well off the tee as I did yesterday and wasn't putting myself in positions where I could go at a lot of pins.

"I had a little bit of a mini-rally at the end which I needed, but the four bogeys on the front nine that's just down to being out of position off the tee and not being able to get it very close with my second shot.

"Hopefully [I can] tidy that up going into tomorrow, but obviously Kis is on fire right now. But take him out of the equation, I feel like I'm still right there in the tournament."

eir Sport are showing all four days of the PGA Championship from Quail Hollow, 10-13 August. Coverage continues at 6pm Irish time on eir Sport 1 on Saturday, 12 August.

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