Graeme Storm fired a course record nine-under-par 63 to hit the front at Glendower Golf Club, but neither the Englishman’s feat nor the cut worries of South Africa’s two top ranked amateurs ranked high on the minds of the golf fans after the second round of the BMW SA Open proudly hosted at Glendower Country Club on Friday.
Gallery: Day two of SA Open in full-swing
The supporters had come out in their droves to watch Rory McIlroy and the world number two did not disappoint, but a niggling back injury could spell trouble.
Storm had a two shot lead over South African pair Jbe’ Kruger and Trevor Fisher Jnr and American Peter Uhlein at the end of day two. Marco Steyn and Kyle McClatchie will have to wait out the completion of the second round today to see if they will challenge for the Freddie Tait Trophy. And all the McIlroy fans will be holding their collective breaths in the hopes that he doesn’t withdraw from the weekend action.
The Northern Irishman was three over through four holes, but an eagle three at the par five eighth hole set him on a purple patch that saw him muscled his way towards Storm.
Using new clubs, McIlroy showed in the first round that the driver was working just fine with his first drive rocketing a massive 392 yards. On day two, it was the putter’s turn and the results have been equally impressive.
In a stretch of eight holes, he made eight consecutive one-putts, and he seemed destined to go into the weekend in the lead.
However, a bogey pair at the final holes saw him drop back to join Keith Horne, English pair Laurie Canter and Jordan L Smith and Scotsman David Drysdale in a tie for fifth at nine under.
As disappointing as that was, losing McIlroy altogether will be a crushing blow to the fans.
Play resumed at 7.15am today and the cut will be made once the second round is complete.
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