CALEDON, Ontario — Masters champion Rory McIlroy tumbled out of the RBC Canadian Open on Friday along with his second-highest rating to par in any PGA Tour spherical of his profession, with Cameron Champ taking a two-stroke lead into the weekend within the remaining occasion earlier than the U.S. Open.
McIlroy shot an 8-under 78, making a multitude of the fifth gap with a quadruple-bogey 8 in his highest whole rating since additionally taking pictures 7-over 78 final yr within the first spherical of the Open Championship, which additionally was the final time he missed a lower.
He had a double bogey on No. 11, 4 bogeys and two birdies Friday.
“In fact it considerations me,” McIlroy stated. “You do not need to shoot excessive scores just like the one I did at present. Nonetheless, I felt like I got here right here clearly with a brand new driver pondering that that kind of was going to be good and clear up a few of the issues off the tee, however it did not.”
It is the fifth time McIlroy has carded an 8-over spherical and trails solely the 10-over 80 he shot within the opening spherical of the 2018 U.S. Open. It is his outright highest rating in any non-major PGA Tour spherical.
At 9 over, the two-time Canadian Open winner was 21 strokes behind Champ on the rain-softened North Course at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley. It is his first missed lower in a non-major tour occasion for the reason that 2023 Gamers Championship.
“Clearly, going to Oakmont subsequent week, what that you must do greater than the rest there may be hit fairways,” McIlroy stated. “Nonetheless kind of looking for the kind of lacking piece off the tee.”
Champ had 4 birdies in a 68 within the morning a day after opening with a 62. He was at 12 underneath, enjoying the primary 36 holes with no bogey.
“It is firmed up a little bit bit, however pretty much like yesterday,” Champ stated. “The fairways I really feel like have been firming up a little bit bit. The greens barely, however fairly near how they have been yesterday.”
The three-time PGA Tour winner obtained one of many final spots within the area after being the eighth alternate Friday when the commitments closed.
“I undoubtedly did not assume I used to be getting in,” Champ stated.
Andrew Putnam was second after a bogey-free 62 on the course internet hosting the occasion for the primary time. He received the 2018 Barracuda Championship for his lone tour title.
“I hit a whole lot of fairways, hit a whole lot of good iron pictures, too, and my putter was on fireplace,” Putnam stated. “Just about did all the things proper. Did not actually make many errors.”
Thorbjorn Olesen of Denmark, tied for the first-round lead with Cristobal Del Photo voltaic after a 61, had a 70 drop right into a tie for third at 9 underneath with Canadians Richard Lee (64) and Nick Taylor (65) and France’s Victor Perez (65).
Taylor received the 2023 occasion at Oakdale.
“Hung in there,” Taylor stated. “Making a birdie on the final was necessary to finish the day properly.”
Del Photo voltaic was 8 underneath after a 71. Shane Lowry (68) additionally was 8 underneath with Ryan Fox (66), Jake Knapp (69), Sam Burns (66) and Matteo Manassero (65).
Info from ESPN Analysis and The Related Press was used on this report.