Rory McIlroy has generally enjoyed a slow and steady tournament so far at the iconic Alfred Dunhill Links Championship this week.
As he hopes to finish a frustrating season on something of a high, McIlroy has recorded back-to-back three-under-par rounds to sit on -6 entering Saturday's final round.
Played on three different Scottish courses across three days, Friday's second round for McIlroy came from the Kingsbarns Golf Links, just down the coast from the St. Andrew's Old Course where he will complete his 54-hole tournament on Saturday.
He would run into some hot water with home favourite Robert MacIntyre on Friday, with the Scot visibly frustrated when a mega McIlroy drive landed on the green while he was lining up a putt.
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Rory McIlroy pulled off outrageous drive at Alfred Dunhill Links
On the par four 14th at Kingsbarns, Bob MacIntyre was preparing a birdie putt when he had some interference from an unexpected source.
Playing in the group behind MacIntyre, Rory McIlroy took his drive from the tee box of the 390-yard hole.
In classic big-hitting fashion, McIlroy smashed a mega drive not only right down the fairway but straight to the green, with the ball rolling past MacIntyre lining up his putt.
MacIntyre stopped his preparations and walked away from his ball, cutting a frustrated figure as he waited for McIlroy's playing partner Billy Horschel to take his shot.
Rory McIlroy drove the green while Robert MacIntyre was about to putt. "I don't think Bob is too impressed with that!" pic.twitter.com/ZtbOccFxLU
— Alex Myers (@AlexMyers3) October 4, 2024
The commentators on duty picked up on MacIntyre's frustration, saying, "I don't think Bob was too impressed with that!"
It was only natural for Rory McIlroy to play the tee shot - what couldn't have been expected was the Northern Irishman outrageously driving his ball all the way to the green and within a few feet of Robert MacIntyre.
Thankfully, both men would go on to birdie the hole.
The pair were Ryder Cup teammates last year in Rome.
McIlroy finished Friday's round one shot ahead of the home hero on -6, though MacIntyre has made a strong start to his Saturday round and has leapfrogged the four-time Major champion in the leaderboard.
Rory McIlroy will hope for a strong finish to the tournament. However, with the County Down man sitting ten shots off the lead overnight, there is little hope of taking home any silverware from Scotland.
