Friday 9 November 2018 15:48, UK
Rory McIlroy has admitted that improvement is needed in his game after failing to make the most of a strong start to his week at the Nedbank Golf Challenge.
The Northern Irishman was three under after 13 holes on Thursday but stuttered home to a level-par 72, before following it up by mixing four birdies with three bogeys in a second-round 71.
McIlroy, arriving in South Africa knowing that he needed at least a runner-up finish to stay in with a chance of ending the season as European No 1, now heads into the weekend eight strokes adrift of midway pacesetter Sergio Garcia.
"It has been a frustrating couple of days," McIlroy said. "My game is not really where I want it to be, but I've got two more opportunities this week to try and put a couple of good rounds together and then go to Dubai and try to finish the season on a high.
"I haven't been giving myself that many chances to be fair. It was good the first few holes today, but I was very scrappy on the way in. I haven't been putting myself in position off the tee to give myself chances with irons to get it close enough to have a good look at birdie.
"I need to tidy up my game off the tee, and then if I do that you can give yourself a lot of chances around here, but you need to get the ball in the fairway first."
Garcia held a four-shot lead after the opening day but carded three three-putts on his way to a second-round 71, cutting his lead to a single stroke at the halfway stage.
"It wasn't the ideal finish," Garcia told Sky Sports. "My goal for the day was to shoot a sub-70 round and I had the chance to on 18. We are still in the lead and it's not a bad spot to be in."
Watch the Nedbank Golf Challenge throughout the week live on Sky Sports. Live coverage continues on Saturday from 7am on Sky Sports Golf.
