(Reuters) - Defending champion Rory McIlroy's nightmare at the Players Championship continued on Friday, with the Northern Irishman certain to miss the cut after shooting a second-round 75 that dropped him to 10-over par. The Northern Irishman, the first defending champion to miss the cut since Rickie Fowler in 2016, said his bid to add speed and power to his game, inspired by Bryson DeChambeau's U.S. Open triumph, had backfired. "I'd be lying if I said it wasn't anything to do with what Bryson did at the US Open. The cut will be made official on Saturday after the completion of the second round, which was paused due to fading light. England's Lee Westwood compiled a bogey-free six-under 66 to take the halfway lead on nine under, one ahead of compatriot Matt Fitzpatrick.

Source: The Star March 13, 2021 04:18 UTC