Sungjae Im takes second-round lead at Truist Championship as Rory McIlroy trails by four

CHARLOTTE, NC (AP) — It took 27 holes, however

Rory McIlroy began to return to his Masters kind.

The No. 2 participant on the planet heated up on the again 9 Friday at Quail Hollow and completed with a 4-under 67 to climb into competition at the Truist Championship, four photographs behind the 36-hole chief Sungjae Imwho was at 9-under.

Playing his first event since profitable the inexperienced jacket for a second time on April 12 at Augusta National, McIlroy was 1-under and buried on the leaderboard eight photographs again when he made the flip.

But birdies at No. 10 and 11 received him rolling, and he appeared to feed off the vitality from the gang, simply as he is accomplished in his earlier four wins in Charlotte, the place he has a big following.

McIlroy’s method photographs received nearer and nearer, and he added birdies on Nos. 13, 15 and 16. He shot 32 on the again 9 regardless of lipping out his par putt on the par-4 18th gap after discovering a greenside bunker.

“It was a good day to get myself back on the hunt and feel like I have a real chance going into the weekend,” McIlroy mentioned.

At one level, McIlroy hit 14 straight greens in regulation — a private course file.

“I started to make some good swings, especially with the irons,” McIlroy mentioned. “I played one tournament in seven weeks, so I think just getting the reps under my belt a little bit and getting a scorecard in my hand. I feel like your patterns on the golf course are always a little bit different than your patterns on the range, or it is for me anyway.”

McIlroy is not the one huge title in competition.

Rickie Fowler vaulted into the combination with the day’s low spherical of 8-under 63, which included 9 birdies.

Cameron Younga two-time winner on the PGA TOUR this yr, shot 70 and is 5 photographs again.

Fleetwood mentioned he scored nicely regardless of not having his finest stuff.

“It’s just nice to even get a couple of days where you have something to show for your work, I guess,” mentioned Fleetwood, who will play within the last pairing with Im on Saturday. “Just a nice reminder that it will come good at some point if you keep doing the right things. So that’s been great. I just hope it continues.”

For Im, the season hasn’t gone as nicely as he is anticipated. He’s battled by a wrist damage and has just one top-40 end.

Now wholesome, that could be about to alter.

The South Korean adopted a gap spherical 7-under 64 with a 69 as he appears for his first tour win since 2021 in Las Vegas.

“I know this course very well, so I’m taking advantage of that,” Im mentioned. “And then the scrambling, because of the play with the Presidents Cup, I know where to miss the greens, I’m very familiar with this golf course. But I didn’t putt very well today, but I’m happy with where I’m at.”

Thomas received the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow in 2017 and mentioned that is the most effective he is felt bodily since having surgical procedure to deal with a herniated disk in his decrease again in November.

He would have posted back-to-back 67s had he not missed a birdie putt on his last gap Friday.

“I felt like I’m close,” Thomas mentioned. “I’ve really been pleased the last couple weeks.”

It was the fourth ace on No. 17 in event historical past and the primary since Mark Hubbard in 2023.