McIlroy Jumps to Tied 5th "Powerful Iron Shots"... What About Lee Kyoung-hoon?

Wells Fargo Championship Day 2: 5-Under 'Comeback Mode', Wallace and Two Others Tied for Lead, Mickelson Stumbles at 4-Over

[Asia Economy Kim Hyun-jun, Golf Specialist Reporter] Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland, photo) is making a full-scale push for victory.

On the 8th (Korean time), at the Quail Hollow Golf Club in Charlotte, North Carolina, USA (par 71, 7,551 yards), during the second day of the PGA Tour Wells Fargo Championship (total prize money $8.1 million), he surged with a 5-under-par round to quickly leap into a tie for 5th place (4-under-par 138). Matt Wallace (England), Gary Woodland, and Patrick Rodgers share the lead (6-under-par 136), while Kramer Hickok (all USA) is in 4th place (5-under-par 137) in pursuit.

McIlroy recorded six birdies and one bogey. Starting at the 10th hole (par 5), he opened fire early with consecutive birdies on the 14th and 15th holes, then added birdies on the 17th, and the 1st and 3rd holes of the back nine. Despite a maximum drive of 349 yards and a fairway hit rate of only 35.71%, his pinpoint iron shots, missing the green only three times, stood out. The 3-putt bogey on the 4th hole (par 3) was a disappointment. He recovered his score with a birdie on the 8th hole (par 4).

It is interesting that McIlroy has not won since the World Golf Championships (WGC) HSBC Champions in November 2019. This tournament is especially a "promised land" where he has won twice before, in 2010 and 2015. In 2015, he set the course record with 11-under-par on the third day and posted the tournament's lowest score (21-under-par 267). "My iron shots were good today," he said, adding confidently, "It feels like an opportunity has come after a long time."

First-day leader Phil Mickelson struggled with a 4-over-par round and dropped to a tie for 10th place (3-under-par 139), while world number two Justin Thomas (both USA) also lost two strokes, tying for 41st place (even par 142). Lee Kyung-hoon (30, CJ Logistics) faltered with shaky iron shots, falling to 6-over-par and tied for 51st place (1-over-par 143). For Korea, "Tank" Choi Kyung-ju (51, SK Telecom) is positioned at a tie for 64th place (2-over-par 144). Im Sung-jae (23), Kang Sung-hoon (34), and An Byeong-hun (30, all CJ Logistics) were cut.

Phil Mickelson is disappointed after recording a bogey on the 15th hole during the second day of the Wells Fargo Championship. Charlotte, North Carolina, USA = Getty Images / Multivitz