Rory McIlroy turned a sluggish start into a four‑under 67 on Friday’s second round at Quail Hollow, pulling within four strokes of leader Sungjae Im. After an opening nine that left him one under and eight behind, the two‑time Masters champion sparked a back‑nine charge with birdies at 10, 11, 13, 15 and 16, before a late bogey on 18 halted his surge.

Tommy Fleetwood matched McIlroy’s 67, sitting just a shot off Im, while Rickie Fowler posted the day’s low round, an eight‑under 63 that featured nine birdies. Justin Thomas, the 2017 PGA champion, remained two back, and rookie Alex Fitzpatrick stayed within striking distance of the lead today. Cameron Young’s 70 left him five strokes shy of the lead.

Im, who opened with a seven‑under 64, carded a 69 and praised his familiarity with the course, though he admitted his putting fell short. South Korean’s confidence keeps him in contention for his first win since 2021. Chandler Blanchet added drama with a hole‑in‑one on the 17th, the tournament’s fourth ace on that hole. The ace energised gallery and boosted morale.