January 20, 2020 10:21 PM EST
HOYLAKE, England -- Rory McIlroy only saw birdies at Royal Liverpool, mostly on his scorecard, and even one pheasant that trotted across the eighth green as he was lining up a putt. Kyler Fackrell Jersey . That was but a minor interruption in his command performance Friday in the British Open. Once he made a birdie, and then another, nothing could stop McIlroy. Not another collapse in the second round. Not anyone in the field. And certainly not Tiger Woods. After a bogey on his opening hole stirred memories of another "Black Friday," McIlroy looked more like the Boy Wonder who won two majors in a runaway. With three birdies in his last four holes, he posted a second straight 6-under 66 to build a four-shot lead over Dustin Johnson. McIlroy spoke of an "inner peace," and the two secret words that triggered his powerful swing and set up birdie chances on just about every hole. "People call it the zone, people call it whatever," he said. "Its just a state of mind where you think clearly. Everything seems to be on the right track. Ive always said, whenever you play this well, you always wonder how youve played so badly before. And whenever youve played so badly, you always wonder how you play so well. Im happy where my game is at the minute. And hopefully, I can just keep up the solid play for another couple of days." Woods is fortunate to even play for two more days. He started the second round only three shots behind. He finished it on the 18th hole, standing over a 6-foot birdie putt just to avoid missing back-to-back cuts for the first time in his career. Woods made the putt for a 77, matching his second-worst round as a pro in the British Open. Woods hit driver five times -- four more than he hit all week when he won at Royal Liverpool in 2006. None found the fairway. Woods was 14 shots out of the lead and still thought he had a chance, referring to Paul Lawrie making up 10 shots in one round to win at Carnoustie in 1999. That was against Jean Van de Velde. This is Rory McIlroy, who has won both his majors by eight shots. "Two 66s from Rory is a bit special, but he is just that -- he is a bit special," Graeme McDowell said. "So hes going to be tough to catch this weekend if he keeps that up." McIlroy was at 12-under 132 -- the same 36-hole score of Woods in 2006. Dustin Johnson birdied the last two holes for a 65, the low score of the week. That ordinarily would put him in the last group with McIlroy, except they will have company in a historic decision at golfs oldest championship. Because of a nasty storm approaching England, the Open will go to threesomes teeing off on both sides Saturday. Francesco Molinari (70) will join them. He was part of a large group at 6-under 138 that included Rickie Fowler (69), Sergio Garcia (70), Charl Schwartzel (67), Louis Oosthuizen (68) and Ryan Moore (68). David Hearn (73) of Brantford, Ont., is tied for 24th at 1-under par, while Graham DeLaet (76) of Weyburn, Sask., missed the cut. Johnson had a chance at the claret jug three years ago until a 2-iron that went out-of-bounds on the 14th hole at Royal St. Georges. He also lost a three-shot lead in the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach, and missed out on a playoff at Whistling Straits for grounding his club in sand at the 2010 PGA Championship. "Im glad and Im in the last group," Johnson said. "Just go out there and try to shoot a big number." Four shots can be lost quickly in any major, especially in links golf, particularly in nasty weather. McIlroy followed up a record-tying 63 at St. Andrews in 2010 with an 80 the following day. Even so, the ease with which he moved around Royal Liverpool was more frightening than any forecast. McIlroy picked up his first birdie with two putts from across the green on the par-5 fifth. But it was on the par-3 sixth, when McIlroy deposited an 8-iron to 7 feet for birdie, that he found that peace and put the pedal down on the rest of the field. He ushered the pheasant off the eighth green, regrouped and holed a 7-foot birdie putt, chipped to tap-in range on the 10th and then kept giving himself chances on all but one hole until ending with three birdies. McIlroy was in such a groove that with the wind at his back, he hit driver 396 yards on the 17th hole and pitched to 8 feet. It was only Friday -- a fantastic one, not a freaky one -- but the kid looked like he was going for a knockout. "Once I got to 7 (under), I felt like, OK, this time I feel good. I can get to 8. I can get to 8, 9, 10, 11, 12." The 17th hole is where Woods fell apart. He started double bogey-bogey and made only pars the rest of the way until his tee shot on the 17th was about 100 yards short and 50 yards wider than McIlroys drive. Hanging his head, Woods was walking down the fairway when he was told it was out of bounds. Back at the tee, he hooked that shot closer to the 16th fairway and made triple bogey. A birdie enabled him to make the cut, a small consolation considering what McIlroy is doing. "Its not a surprise. Hes done this before," Woods said. "Once he gets going, he can make a lot of birdies and he plays pretty aggressively to begin with. And when hes going, he can get it going pretty good." As for those two secret words that keep McIlroy locked into what hes doing? "Ill tell you on Sunday, hopefully," he said. Xavier Williams Jersey . The bout served as the headlining matchup of Saturdays "UFC Fight Night: Brown vs. Silva" event, which took place at U.S. Bank Arena in Cincinnati. It was Silva who looked well on his way to victory in the early going, delivering a pair of crushing kicks to the body that sent Brown crashing to the floor, doubled over in pain. Jared Cook Jersey . Long snapper Patrick Mannelly announced Friday that he is retiring after a 16-year-career with the Bears, a span in which he played in a team record 245 games and snapped the ball 2,282 times.MALMO, Sweden -- Canada has moved into the big rink and goalie Zach Fucale expects big pressure will come with it at the world junior hockey championship. The Canadian squad, which has been based at the smaller, 5,800-seat Isstadion facility since the start of the tournament, held its first practice Friday at the 11,618-seat Malmo Arena. The snazzy, modern venue will be where Canada faces Finland in semifinal action Saturday. The winner will face either Sweden or Russia in the tournament finale there Sunday. "The stakes are getting higher and higher and guys will be battling harder," said Fucale. "At this level, every detail counts. "Everyone will be killing themselves for the win." Canada will be looking to erase the memory of last years semifinal loss to the United States in Ufa, Russia. That resulted in the Canadians not winning a medal in this event for the first time since 1998. Canada faces a Finnish side that hasnt won a medal in eight years, although the squad reached the tournament semifinals two years ago. The Finns, who overcame a 3-1 deficit to beat the Czech Republic 5-3 in the quarter-finals, are a dangerous team. They not only have a top goalie in Juuse Saros but also some dandy snipers led by Chicago Blackhawks prospect Teuvo Teravainen, who has nine assists and is plus-7 in five games. Finland also boasts defenceman Rasmus Ristolainen, on loan from the Buffalo Sabres. Canadian coach Brent Sutter isnt taking the Finns lightly. "I see a hard-working team, a team thats very structured, a team thats going to play some North American hockey," said Sutter. "Theyre a gritty group. "Theyve been getting decent goaltending. Theyve got three forwards on their team that are as good as any forwards in this tournament. Theyre going to come hard and we have to be ready for it." Canada beat Finland twice in exhibition games this year, once in the summer at Lake Placid, N.Y., and again Dec. 20 in Sweden, where they dominated the final two periods after Fucale gave up two questionable goals in the first. The Finns are confident they can pull off an upset. "We have a good team and we have a good chance to win," said Saros. "Were going to do a prevent style to get that game. "Were going to have good team spirit and our power plays pretty good. I think those things will be important." And he expects a physical game, especially around his net. "They like to play in the corners and they come to the goal -- three, four players come to the goal -- so I have to be awake," he said. Actually, the Finnish power pllay has registered just four goals in 22 chances (18. Damien Wilson Jersey. per cent). But two key players -- Ristolainen (flu) and Artturi Lehkonen (leg injury) -- each missed two games before returning to face the Czechs. Finlands penalty kill has been impressive, allowing only one goal on 21 chances (95.2 per cent). Canadas power play has clicked on 7-of-24 chances (29.1 per cent). Sutter has stressed discipline, which got away from his team when it took three minor penalties in the third period of a 4-1 win over Switzerland in the quarter-finals. Canada earned the "easier" route to the final when it beat the Americans in the preliminary round to take first place in its group. But the team cant afford to waste that with an upset loss against the Finns. Sutter has underlined concentrating on one game at a time, which defenceman Griffin Reinhart said may have been a problem in last years semifinal. "Our focus is on this game," he said. "Maybe last year we got a little bit ahead of ourselves. "Its tough. Youve got to treat every game like a Game 7. I dont think its anybodys intention, but nobody really stressed taking it one day at a time (last year) and thats what you really need to do at this tournament. You cant get caught looking ahead." All teams have players hurting, including Canada. Reinharts defence partner, Mattew Dumba, and forward Charles Hudon sat out practice Friday. Dumba came up limping after a collision late in the second against the Swiss while Hudon has been playing through a shoulder injury suffered a week ago against Slovakia. Sutter expects both will play against Finland. "Maintenance day for both those guys," he said. Sutter doesnt see the venue change making a big difference either. "Its irrelevant where youre playing the game," said Sutter. "Its played on the same size of ice. "We just have to do what we need to do to give ourselves the best chance." It will also be a move for the few thousand red-and-white clad Canadian fans who jammed the Isstadion, giving it a home-game feel for Canadas team. They will likely make up the majority of the crowd against Finland although they may get drowned out if Canada advances to the final against Sweden. The Swedes, who played at Malmo Arena in the round robin, have averaged 11,278 spectators per game. "It was crazy at the other rink," said Fucale. "It was almost a home game. "I felt as if I was in Canada. Its really cool that this happens. You can feel their support. Theyll certainly help us over the next couple of games." ' ' '
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