Golf

Rory McIlroy boosts chances of third RBC Canadian Open title with flawless 67

World number three moved within three shots of the lead of Carl Yuan

Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland watches after hitting his first shot on the 16th hole. Photograph: Vaughn Ridley/Getty
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland watches after hitting his first shot on the 16th hole. Photograph: Vaughn Ridley/Getty
Sat Jun 10 2023 - 15:30

Rory McIlroy boosted his chances of a third consecutive RBC Canadian Open title with a flawless second round of 67 in Ontario.

McIlroy recorded five birdies at Oakdale Golf and Country Club to improve to six under par, three shots off the halfway lead held by China’s Carl Yuan.

The world number three first won the tournament by seven shots in 2019 but it was cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. McIlroy carded a closing 62 to win at St George’s 12 months ago.

Asked about trying to win the title for a third time on a third different course, McIlroy said: “I sort of like it.

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“I like reacting to what I’m seeing out there and targets. And I’m not a great player at playing a course by memory.

“There’s certain venues on tour that I go back to and I play well, but it’s not really because I remember how putts are breaking or where to miss it. It’s just I feel comfortable at that venue.”

Shane Lowry shot a round of 69 on Friday to lie tied 32nd, six shots off the lead. Ireland’s David Carey, a qualifier for the event, missed the cut after rounds of 73 and 74.

Rounds of 68 and 67 gave Yuan a one-shot lead over home favourite Corey Conners, CT Pan and the English pair of Tyrrell Hatton and Aaron Rai.

Hatton, who fired six birdies in seven holes from the seventh in his 64, said: “A lot of putts went in, which was nice.

“The greens were a bit funky this afternoon; I managed to hit my start line, they’d bobble off line and thankfully they bobbled back on line and went in. Just happy to see the ball go in the hole and have a decent day.”