Holmes keeps lead, McIlroy loses temper
DORAL, Fla. — J.B. Holmes kept his lead. Rory McIlroy lost his cool.
Holmes was 11 shots worse than his tournament record-tying 62, finishing with a tee shot in the water and a double bogey on the 18th hole Friday for a 1-over 73.
That still was enough to take a two-shot lead over Ryan Moore (71) into the weekend at the Cadillac Championship.
McIlroy made the wrong kind of splash at Trump National Doral — first with a shot, then with his club.
On a wild afternoon of eagles, birdies and big numbers at every turn, McIlroy produced the biggest highlight when he pulled his 3-iron into the water on the par-5 eighth, and then heaved the club some 50 yards into the middle of the lake.
“Felt good at the time,” McIlroy said. “Look, I just let frustration get the better of me.”
McIlroy managed to salvage a bogey, made three birdies on the back nine and shot a 2-under 70 to stay in the hunt at this World Golf Championship.
He was still eight shots behind Holmes, though the Blue Monster is a tough course for anyone to protect a lead.
Holmes was at 9-under 135 before he countered with five birdies.
