(CNN) -- They've mirrored each other at Merion. And now it looks like both Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy won't be in contention on the final day of the U.S. Open.
Woods shot a six-over-par 76 Saturday on Merion's unforgiving East Course and McIlroy, second only to Woods in the world rankings, carded a five-over-par 75.
They were paired together for the third straight day, hitting identical 73s in first round and 70s in the second.
While Woods and McIlroy were only four shots behind co-leaders Phil Mickelson and Billy Horschel through two rounds, McIlroy had slipped a further two shots behind the clubhouse leader, Australia's Jason Day, and Woods was seven shots behind Day.
Read: Woods plays through pain
It got worse after Mickelson, a five-time U.S. Open runner-up, completed his round. McIlroy drifted to nine shots behind and Woods 10.
It means Woods' wait to end his five-year drought at majors appears set to continue.
Woods, bothered by a left arm injury he sustained en route to winning The Players Championship last month, raised hopes among his fans when he struck a birdie on the first hole.
Woods, though, wouldn't hit another birdie for the rest of the round. Instead he registered seven bogeys.
McIlroy, in search of a third major, wasn't much better, hitting one more birdie than Woods.
Read: Mickelson makes grade
The low scores at Merion have failed to materialize, and Sergio Garcia needed 10 shots to complete the par-4 15th hole. Despite the disastrous hole, he still managed to match McIlroy and shoot a 75.
Garcia said he was heckled in the first round and a fan blurted out, "fried chicken" before he teed off at his first hole Saturday. It was a reference to the "fried chicken" jibe Garcia directed at Woods last month.
Garcia issued a public apology and left Woods a note this week leading into the tournament.
Unlike Woods, McIlroy and Garcia, Day tamed Merion with a two-under-par 68.
Via: Woods, McIlroy struggle at Merion
No comments:
Post a Comment