McIlroy has lot of work to do to catch Stricker

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Just about any other week, Rory McIlroy would've already been heading for home.

Not this one.

Even with an aching right wrist, he's not giving up on chasing down Steve Stricker.

McIlroy struggled through the second round of the PGA Championship with his injured wrist all taped up. A 3-over 73 — which included a triple bogey — left a daunting 10-stroke deficit when he walked off the course Friday.

Stricker had not even teed off by the time McIlroy finished, having extended his advantage on the U.S. Open champion without hitting a shot.

But just making it through the first two days was an accomplishment, given what McIlroy did on his third hole of the tournament. The 22-year-old from Northern Ireland strained a tendon when he foolishly took a swing with his ball sitting against a thick tree root.

He considered quitting a couple of times Thursday, but felt comfortable about carrying on after getting an MRI and being told by the medical staff that he couldn't do any more damage.

"If it wasn't a major," he said, "I probably would've stopped."

McIlroy failed to make a charge on Stricker, who opened with a 63 and came within a hair of being the first player to go even lower in a major. He had a 10-foot putt at his last hole for a 61, but it slid by the right side of the cup.

Even so, the 44-year-old was off to a strong start in a bid for his first major title. He's 0-for-52 in his career but keeps making a run at it, having finished in the top 10 at all four of golf's biggest events.

McIlroy, who's half the leader's age, already has his major, blowing away the field at Congressional two months ago. He's become the new face of the game with Tiger Woods struggling, arriving at Atlanta Athletic Club as the favorite.

One ill-advised swing might have ruined his chances.

McIlroy said his wrist didn't hurt as much in the second round. Actually, a shaky putter was his main problem.

"I feel like I'm hitting the ball OK," he said. "I gave myself a few chances but I just didn't putt very well at all. I'm struggling on the greens this week."

There was also a misjudged tee shot at the par-3 17th.

Torn between clubs, he actually went for a little more distance with a 6-iron. But he took a little bit off his swing, got the ball a little too high and watched in disbelief as a slight breeze carried it into the water. He had to take a drop, then three-putted.

Coming off a 40-foot birdie putt at the 16th that got him into the red, the triple bogey was a momentum killer. "It was tough to come back from that," McIlroy said.

But he's not conceding the Wanamaker Trophy to Stricker or anyone else.

"I hope to make a good run at it the next couple of days," McIlroy said. "I feel as if I can still make birdies out there. If I didn't think I could contend, I probably wouldn't be playing."

A couple of players put some heat on Stricker — not hard on another sweltering day in the Deep South.

D.A. Points shot 67 for a 4-under 136 at the midway point, three strokes behind Stricker. Anders Hansen was another shot back after posting a 69, his second straight round in the 60s.

So many wacky things happened on the first day at this course in Atlanta's sprawling northern suburbs, Stricker's brilliance and McIlroy's injury were only part of the story.

Tiger Woods opened with a 77, his worst score ever in the PGA. Japanese star Ryo Ishikawa put six — yes, SIX! — balls in the water and wound up with an 85, the highest score of his professional career. The groundskeepers had to contend with mowers gone wild, hastily repairing two greens that were damaged while being clipped.

The craziness extended into Friday, when Brandt Snedeker showed up about 2 minutes late for his 8:10 a.m. tee time and was assessed a two-stroke penalty.

Snedeker thought he was teeing off at 8:20 and sprinted from the putting green to the tee when he realized his mistake. He didn't get there quick enough to avoid the penalty.

"It's embarrassing," said Snedeker, who shot 73 with the extra strokes and was likely to miss the cut. "I feel like I'm 2 years old."

There were no glitches for Stricker, at least on Thursday. Starting on the back, he cruised through the tough four-hole finishing stretch with two birdies, sparked by a hybrid tee shot to 10 feet at the 15th, a monstrous par-3.

"I really felt like I was in trouble coming into this tournament," Stricker said. "I really didn't feel that good on the course."

Well, imagine how Woods felt.

He started out like the Tiger of old, making three birdies in the first five holes for a share of the early lead. He ended like the Tiger we've seen more and more of over the past three years, spraying two shots into the water, a dozen into the sand — and not many at all in the fairway.

The only time he's done worse in a major was that 81 in the 2002 British Open, largely because of hideous weather at Muirfield.

He couldn't blame this one on the conditions in Deep South. It's expected to be sunny and sweltering through the weekend.

"I'm not down," Woods said. "I'm really angry right now."

Stricker's Wisconsin neighbor, Jerry Kelly, had a career-best 65 Thursday and was two shots behind heading into his afternoon round.

Former PGA champion Shaun Micheel, who opened with a surprising 66, tumbled off the leaderboard. He played his first 11 holes at 9 over, finished with a 78 and now has to worry about making the cut, not winning the tournament.