DP WORLD TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP

November 15, 2024

Rory McIlroy

Jumeirah Golf Estates, Earth Course

Quick Quotes

Q. What's the verdict at the end of that second round? It leaves you very nicely placed for the weekend?

RORY McILROY: Yeah, it does. A little disappointed that I didn't kick on after such a great start, 4-under through seven. I just started to miss a few fairways around the turn and not by much either but the rough is so thick, and you lose all control of your golf ball if you hit it in there.

Three holes in a row I hit it off a fairway and made two bogeys, 8, 9 and 10. Steadied the ship a little bit but a couple of chances went by on 14 and 15.

And then the last few holes, they are pretty difficult. It's hard, as well. One hard thing about being in the final couple groups is the greens start to get a eight chewed up at the end of the day. Especially with the low light you can see everything, even though you can tap stuff down, it's still hard to trust it sometimes.

But yeah, it's nice to, I thought I hit my tee shot in the hazard on the last so it was nice to get up there and see it dry end and up having a 20-footer for eagle. Nice way to finish and as you say, a good position going into the weekend right there.

Q. I think it's fair to say we have already given you The Race to Dubai title because of how it stands with Thriston, as well, and your very solid position on the leaderboard, but presumably you can't afford to think that way just yet?

RORY McILROY: I mean, at this point, I'm just trying to win the golf tournament, and if I win the golf tournament, then everything else that happens alongside that is nice.

So yeah, but right now my focus is you know, I'd love to get my third title here at the Earth Course, and if I can do that, then yeah, everything else will be great.

Q. A round of 69 today and now a 67. How does that one leave you feeling?

RORY McILROY: Probably not quite as good as I felt coming off the course yesterday. I got off to a great start, 4-under through seven. Feeling like I was in total control of what I was doing and then I just started to miss a few fairways around the turn. When you start missing fairways, the way the course is set up this week, you're going to start to struggle.

So I made two bogeys in the next three holes. Steadied the ship a little bit but felt like I let a couple of chances slip by on 14 and 15. But played the last three holes well. It was nice to finish with a birdie and at least shoot something in the 60s after the start that I had.

Q. One shot back going into the weekend on a course that you've had such a lot of suck on, so many low rounds on. Give us your thoughts on going into the weekend in that position?

RORY McILROY: Yeah, look, my comfort level around this place, it's always been there ever since the first time we played back in 2009. But yeah, the course is set up different. I need to do a better job of hitting the fairways. I did for the first few holes, and then I let it slip a bit. I started to miss the driver a bit left in the middle of the round.

So tried to sort of straighten that out, and again, if I can hit fairways out here, then the greens are very receptive and you give yourself plenty of chances.

But yeah, look, I'm so comfortable around this place and I've had success before. So I'm liking my chances going into the weekend.