DORAL, Fla. — Rory McIlroy’s left-hand-low putting style was something he was considering switching to for a while before he took the plunge this week at the Cadillac Championship.

The reason he hesitated, he said, was he didn’t want to be accused of mimicking Jordan Spieth.

“That was the whole thing for me,” McIlroy said Friday, maybe only half-seriously.

Whatever works. McIlroy shot a 7-under 65 Friday on the Blue Monster at Doral, getting to 8 under for the week and going into the weekend tied with Dustin Johnson for second, two shots back of Adam Scott.

And the reason McIlroy is in prime position is his putting.

He needed 33 putts on Thursday, leaving several short in his first competitive round since switching his putting approach — something he’s long tinkered with during practices. But on Friday, McIlroy took just 23 putts, making 15 of 16 from 10 feet or closer.

If he needed any more affirmation that the change works, it came on his closing hole Friday. McIlroy buried a 20-footer for birdie on the 18th, getting a huge roar from the grandstand and giving him plenty of momentum to take into Saturday.

“A great putt to finish with,” McIlroy said. “Obviously gives me a lot of confidence going into the weekend.”