NEWS

Rory McIlroy misses cut at BMW Championship

By Jack Bezants
Published on
Rory McIlroy misses cut at BMW Championship

VIRGINIA WATER, England (AP) -- Rory McIlroy missed the cut at the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth on Friday after an erratic 6-over 78 at the European Tour's flagship event.

The top-ranked Northern Irishman made six bogeys and a double bogey on the par-four 11th, leaving him at 5-over 149 and four strokes outside the cutline. He was 15 shots behind clubhouse leader Francesco Molinari, who shot a 69.

Playing his fourth straight event, McIlroy's round was littered with wayward tee shots and feeble putting, which he put down to fatigue.

"I was trying to muster some birdies on the back nine but could not get anything going," McIlroy said. "Coming off the back of three good weeks in the United States, I am in need of a rest. I'll dust myself off for next week (at the Irish Open) and not read too much into it."

McIlroy stuttered on the front nine, going out in 36 with two bogeys and a birdie before his round unraveled at the turn.

He bogeyed the 10th and on the 11th, hooked a wild shot off the tee into trees on the left for an unplayable lie, before sending his next attempt into the crowd.

He ran up a six that left him 4 over and slid further down the leaderboard with bogeys on 13, 16 and 18, where he ended his day with a three-putt from 20 feet.

"I can take a couple of days at the weekend to refresh mentally," McIlroy said. "It was inevitable that a good run was going to come to an end but I would love to be here for the weekend."

Molinari made five birdies, including three on the back nine, to sit two shots clear of Emiliano Grillo of Argentina, who shot a 65.

Molinari says "the start was very difficult" but he "managed to steady the ship to make it another good day."

This article was written by Jack Bezants from The Associated Press and was legally licensed through the NewsCred publisher network.