Sawgrass chews up McIlroy yet again

GOLF PLAYERS' CHAMPIONSHIP:RORY McILROY just can't figure out the conundrum that is the TPC Sawgrass. Although the 23-year-old Ulsterman arrived in Florida as the world number one, he again left with his tail between his legs after missing the cut for a third time – in three career appearances – in the Players' Championship, where former Masters champion Zach Johnson assumed the midway lead.

In missing the cut for the first time in a year, McIlroy – who lost out in a play-off to Rickie Fowler in last week’s Wells Fargo tournament – was left somewhat bemused at his continuing failure to work out a gameplan for Sawgrass.

“Something about this place I just can’t quite get to grips with,” confessed McIlroy, who will resume tournament play at the BMW PGA Championship in Wentworth on May 24th-27th.

Even Johnson, who showed none of the ill-at-ease with the course that ran through McIlroy’s game, couldn’t understand why the US Open champion should continue to struggle at Sawgrass.

“As far as all-around game, the kid (McIlroy) is phenomenal . . . I just think the more and more you play this place, the more and more you appreciate it and respect it and know where to hit it,” said Johnson, who shot a 66 in his second round.

McIlroy had only one birdie – at the 10th, his opening hole, where he sank an 18-footer – in a round where he made only 61 per cent of greens in regulation and took 31 putts.

“I birdied the first and just couldn’t get much going after that. I need to try and get the hang of this course somehow. Off the tee, I find it pretty difficult. You have to position your ball in the fairway and give yourself a chance to get to some of the pins. I didn’t do that.”

Having travelled to the Players on the back of a string of good performances, and as world number one, McIlroy had heightened expectations.

“I’d come back a much better play, a much more consistent player; experienced player and I felt I would come here and think my way around the golf course and just try and play steady golf.

“I tried to do that, and it just didn’t happen . . . hopefully I’m coming back for another 20 years. If I don’t figure it out on my 20th go, there’s something wrong.”

“It’s just a course that you have to figure out, and it’s taken me a while. I’ll come back next year, my fourth attempt, and try to make it to the weekend. I’ll come back next year and give it my best,” he said.

“I’m not getting down on myself about it. I played last week (in Quail Hollow) and I’ve got a big part of the season coming up and I’m looking forward to that. I’ve big events coming up and try to get my game in the best possible shape going into those,” he concluded.

Graeme McDowell put up a battling effort in his bid to survive the cut, responding to bogeys at the sixth and 10th by rolling in birdies at the 11th, 12th and 16th en route to a second round 71 for 145, one-over-par, that was ultimately a shot too many to make the weekend.

Pádraig Harrington also missed the cut on the same score, after opening with a 69 on Thursday. The Dubliner started with a double bogey at the 10th and slipped back to one over with back-to-back bogeys on the fifth and sixth during his back nine. After another bogey at eight, a birdie at nine was too little too late and a 76 ended his week early.

There were no problems for Johnson, who had a run of five birdies in seven holes on the way home before bogeying the 18th in signing for a 66. The American’s hot run started on the 10th with an 18-footer for birdie and he added further birdies at the 11th, 13th, 14th and 16th.

“I feel like the golf course is good for my game. You’ve got to get the ball in the fairway to control your spin into these greens because they’re so firm.

“I like that premium, knowing that I have to get the ball in the fairway . . . . (but) I don’t think I’ve played great here for four straight days,” claimed Johnson, whose lead was threatened by Kevin Na who moved to nine-under with three straight birdies from the 10th hole before a bogey at the 13th saw him slip back to eight under alongside Johnson.