Rory McIlroy shows putting progress at Deutsche Bank Championship
Saturday 3 September 2016 23:59, UK
Rory McIlroy was encouraged by an improved putting display as he moved back in to contention during the second round of the Deutsche Bank Championship.
The world No 5 converted six putts between 10 and 20 feet - more than he made over all four rounds at The Barclays last week - on his way to a four-under 67 at TPC Boston.
McIlroy mixed six birdies with two bogeys in a much-improved display from the opening round, where he had slumped to four over after just three holes, to move within five strokes clubhouse leader Brian Harman.
"The recovery has been good," McIlroy told Sky Sports. "It wasn't the best way to start yesterday, but I stayed patient.
"My game's good and numbers are going to happen like that [triple-bogey at the 12th on Friday] once in a while. I just need to pick off my birdies and that's what I did yesterday to get back to even par.
"It was a bit of a mixed bag on the front nine [on Saturday], but I was really happy to shoot 67 to put myself back in to the tournament."
The Northern Irishman told reporters ahead of the tournament that he is working with putting coach Phil Kenyon to try and boost his confidence on the greens, with signs of progress evident on Saturday.
McIlroy followed a gain at the second by draining an 18-footer at the next, but carded a first blemish when missing the fourth green in two and taking two attempts from 15 feet.
An out-of-bounds approach at the sixth saw McIlroy slip level-par for the day, only for him to bounce back with a hat-trick of birdies over the next three holes to reach the turn in 33.
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A 10-foot gain at the 12th was cancelled out when McIlroy failed to get up-and-down from the greenside bunker at the next, before the four-time major champion finished with a two-putt birdie at the last.
"I'm just trying to simplify everything really," McIlroy added. "The putter was doing a lot during the stroke and I was just trying to simplify it as much as I can.
"I've seen encouraging signs so far and today I've only had 23 or 24 putts and I rolled it really nicely.
"I'll continue to work hard on it and I'll hopefully see in improvements each and every week I play."
Watch the Deutsche Bank Championship throughout the week live on Sky Sports - your home of golf. Third round coverage begins on Sunday from 6pm on Sky Sports 4.
