Rory McIlroy altered his previous stance on the course conditions at Aronimink after a strong performance, carding six birdies for a four-under-par 66 to place himself back in the running at the US PGA Championship. The Northern Irish golfer is now confident in his chances for a seventh major title, intending to unwind by watching a specific movie to clear his mind during the game.
At 37, McIlroy stands just one shot behind the leaders after completing his round, following up on his Friday score of 67 to recover from a challenging start in the tournament. He teed off early in the morning session at Aronimink Golf Club, briefly matching the four-under mark held by overnight leaders Maverick McNealy and Alex Smalley before a setback on the 17th hole.
Addressing the media post-round, McIlroy acknowledged his change in perspective regarding the greens at Aronimink, highlighting how the conditions could be frustrating but also captivating for viewers. Despite his competitive focus, he plans to enjoy some downtime by catching some of the ongoing play and continuing to watch the movie “Batman: The Dark Knight” to distract himself from the game.
As McIlroy observed the leaderboard shift behind him, with players like Justin Thomas and Jon Rahm making moves, he remains optimistic about his chances in the tournament. Reflecting on his round, he noted a few errors that prevented him from reaching a higher score but expressed confidence in his position moving forward.
With the scoring conditions easing up on Saturday, McIlroy recognized the need to capitalize on the favorable conditions, a task he achieved by climbing the leaderboard and positioning himself as a strong contender in the tournament.
