Hole 8 – McIlroy (-12) DeChambeau (-9)
McIlroy’s drive goes a little right off the face and straight away he knows it’s in a bit of bother.
For the third time in the opening eight holes, he finds a bunker with his drive.
DeChambeau asks his caddie if he can clear it, which his caddie confirms he can.
He doesn’t. Right in beside McIlroy! on the right of the fairway!
Chances come and go
Within the space of a minute, Aberg, Day and Scheffler see chances for birdie come and slide on by.
Just as the two leaders prepare to tee it up on the par 5. Which you’d expect birdie chances from if they can keep the drives straight.
- -12 McIlroy
- -9 DeChambeau
- -8 Aberg
- -7 Rose, Scheffler, Conners
Hole 7 – McIlroy (-12) DeChambeau (-9)
So incredibly, it’s Bryson to go first with his third shot from the bunker.
He’s judged it perfectly with the contours of the green to send it out to the left and let it come back towards the hole to leave 4ft for par.
McIlroy just taps his putt for birdie and it somehow comes up a foot short. He’ll be gutted to miss it but will have taken a 4 there everyday of the week after that drive.
DeChambeau taps in for par too.
Hole 7 – McIlroy (-12) DeChambeau (-9)
WHAT A SHOT, RORY MCILROY!
Are you kidding!!?? Are you really kidding!!??
Stuck in the trees and he fires a wedge into the air and the cameraman and patrons have no idea where it is.
It pitches 7ft from the hole and rolls by it, leaving himself 12ft for birdie.
He and caddie Harry share a laugh and a joke about that. I think they’re both surprised how incredible that was.
Exceptional, exceptional effort.
Hole 7 – McIlroy (-12) DeChambeau (-9)
DeChambeau first then after his laying up with an iron from the tee and he’s got 166 yards.
A 9-iron for him which is sent away into the air but comes crashing down into the front bunker.
Hole 7 – McIlroy (-12) DeChambeau (-9)
Rory in a world of trouble again off the tee! A bit of a hook look to that draw and he’s into the trees down the left.
Not where you want to be on this tricky 7th hole.
Bryson – who has bogeyed it twice in his three rounds – sees that and opts to knock an iron down the fairway instead. Smart bit of matchplay there.