PGA Championship, Round 2: Leaderboard, tee times, TV times

VIRGINIA WATER, England — Rory McIlroy shot a 7-under 65 to move into the second-round lead at the European Tour’s BMW PGA Championship on Friday. So good was McIlroy’s bogey-free round at Wentworth that playing partner Alex Noren, the defending champion, called it “the best round I’ve ever seen.” “I’m about to quit golf, I think,” joked Noren, whose own round of 68 left him five shots off the pace on 7 under alongside Robert Rock and Kiradech Aphibarnrat. McIlroy made seven birdies, including four straight from No. 12. Like in the first round, he failed to pick up any shots on the final two holes — both par 5s — but the four-time major winner still described his play as up there with his best in 2018 “ball-striking-wise.” “I had everything sort of firing today,” said the former top-ranked player, who matched his career-low score at Wentworth although the previous 65 was in 2009 before the course changes the following year. “Every tournament is a big tournament, but the more I can play well and the more confidence I can build going into those majors the better.” At 12 under, McIlroy led by three shots over Englishman Sam Horsfield, who followed up a 67 with a 68. European No. 1 Tommy Fleetwood is a shot further back after making birdie on the last three holes to shoot 66. 

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Rickie Fowler has been running through putters at a furious pace, switching several times already this season. He’s been searching far and wide. In the last year alone, check out the selection of putters that GolfWRX has spotted in Fowler’s bag. At last month’s Travelers Championship, Fowler debuted a Cobra King Stingray 20 prototype putter with a custom soleplate in celebration of his daughter’s birthday. The putter was 3D-printed and made to his preferences, but it didn’t last very long. When in doubt, return to what’s worked in the past. And that’s exactly what Fowler has done. In his next start, at the Genesis Scottish Open, Fowler put a putter back in the bag that he’s used off-and-on for the last eight years, a Scotty Cameron Newport 2 GSS (German Stainless Steel) prototype. Fowler is using it this week at the Rocket Mortgage Classic, as well. “Just ran its course (with the previous putters) and ready to go back to the trusty,” Fowler told GolfWRX.com on Wednesday. “I mean, I’ve kind of done it through my whole career where I’ll have something for a bit, then go back to something different, change it up. “She might have needed a little timeout, but hopefully she’s gonna heat up.” Fowler sits 124th in the FedExCup standings with two events remaining until the Playoffs. According to PGATOUR.COM’s 2015 article, Fowler’s putterhead came from a box of GSS putters that were once reserved for Tiger Woods. The putter Fowler uses is slightly different than Woods’ putter, though, with subtle adjustments to the neck placement, bumper radius and face depth for a shallower profile. The putter doesn’t look as pristine as it did fresh out of Woods’ special box, but that’s to be expected after nearly a decade of use. The only white paint left is the dancing “R” in the back cavity, although that could absolutely be intentional. It also has a small wear mark directly on the sweet spot of the club face, which isn’t easy to do on high quality German Stainless Steel; it takes years of contact in the same location to achieve.

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