Rory McIlroy achieves a historic drive while charging through the back nine in 30 shots.
During the third round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational, Rory McIlroy made his tee shot on the third hole.
On his way to achieving his lowest back-nine score at Bay Hill Club and positioning himself as a contender in the Arnold Palmer Invitational, Rory McIlroy opted for what he humorously refers to as a “fargiven” shortcut.
McIlroy’s impressive tee shot at the par-4 10th hole on Saturday afternoon, which was one of six birdies he achieved in a back nine score of 30 strokes, gave him a slim chance to win his second Bay Hill tournament and PGA Tour victory since the Genesis Scottish Open in2023. Despite challenging conditions in central Florida with strong winds, McIlroy managed to bounce back after a difficult front nine by shooting four-under for an overall total of five-under 211 and leaping up twenty-four places on the leaderboard.
There was a significant amount of anger behind McIlroy’s tee shot on the tenth hole, which is typically 401 yards long. However, he managed to cut through the dogleg right and hit his ball for 365 yards while dodging both front bunkers before landing it within sixty-five feet from the back-right pin towards the green’s forefront. Justin Lower as well as Tom Hoge were already present at this spot when McIlroy arrived with his impressive shot!
Attempting to drive the green was a new experience for him and he successfully accomplished it by taking an angle that required flying his ball over nearby houses. Had he not managed to clear this area, it would have been considered out of bounds. However, clearing it posed no difficulty for him.
In terms of audacity, Bryson DeChambeau’s 370-yard shot over the expansive lake and onto the green at the sixth hole of a par-five course in 2021 may have been unmatched.
“I was a little bit fired up by that,” shared McIlroy, aged 34. He had scored two-over 38 on the first nine holes despite thinking he could have been “two or three under through seven.” Consequently, he felt like he wasted his opportunities during those initial few rounds.
After scoring his first birdie of the day with two putts, there was no unnecessary movement from McIlroy at hole 10. Despite hitting the water left of the fairway and playing alongside Spieth, he managed to save par at hole 11 by nailing a seven-foot putt – something his putter hasn’t always been reliable for this season. However, it did most of its work thereafter as McIlroy sunk some impressive shots including those from distances such as 26 feet on fringe area at hole 13; another shot measuring up to be around thirty-feet followed suit once again on remaining green fringes located at seventeen whereas ‘Rory’ sealed off an amazing run by tapping in a twenty-footer during final stage found over eighteenth closing out what is likely considered one heckuva round!
McIlroy remarked, “It’s good to see that I’ve putted exceptionally well for two consecutive days and played the last few holes nicely.”
Regarding the tee shot at 10, he never considered attempting to drive it in his past nine times playing at Bay Hill.
He spoke of the decision, saying “I was not as lengthy back then. Over the last few years though, I have gained several yards in distance which is certainly helpful.” Although he aimed to land his shot in one of two front traps for a strategic approach on the green ahead, hitting it directly onto said surface wasn’t his intention but proved to be pleasant surprise upon walking up towards it.
“After playing the last 10 holes six under, I realized that it’s important to not let things build up inside and instead release them,” stated McIlroy.
He certainly released it.
