The familiar bounce was back in Rory McIlroy's walk around Augusta National Friday, as the four-time major champion ignited the patrons with a sizzling second-round 66 at the Masters.
There were plenty of electric moments from McIlroy's second round, but none were bigger than his risky approach to the par-5 13th that set up a massive eagle to push his charge into overdrive.
Faced with 215 yards to the pin from a hanging lie in the pine straw, McIlroy took a risk, going for the hero shot and carrying the creek in front of the green.
The flighted 4-iron flirted heavily with the water before nestling just nine feet from the hole, prompting an all-time response from McIlroy when discussing it in his press conference following the round.
"When the ball was in the air, I was like, 'You idiot, what did you do?'" McIlroy joked to reporters, according to ASAP Sports. "I rode my luck a little bit with that second shot, but was nice to take advantage of it."
McIlroy admitted he never thought of laying up on the shot, with the important decision being whether to hit a 5-iron or take something off a 4-iron to cover the water. His choice ended up being the proper one with a few yards to spare.
"I think it was like 189 (yards) front. ... I don't think it was really a decision to go for it or not, but it was. I was between a 4- and a 5-iron," McIlroy said.
That eagle got him to 5-under on the round and 4-under through four holes on his second nine. He added another birdie at the 15th - the hole where his double-bogey disasters started Thursday.
McIlroy didn't speak to media following his first round, so he spoke Friday about the rough finish on Day 1.
"I hit two good shots into 15 yesterday, and I felt like I hit a pretty good chip shot," McIlroy said. "I was really surprised at not so much the speed - I knew it was a fast chip; I've hit that chip a hundred times around this golf course - it was just more the first bounce was so firm. I mean, that green is so much firmer than any other green, even the other - the three newer greens."
There wasn't much time for McIlroy to stew on the result with a morning tee time on deck Friday.
"I feel like I just did a good job of resetting. I had a good conversation with (sports psychologist) Bob Rotella this morning, mostly around not pushing too hard too early and trying to get those shots back straightaway," McIlroy said. "You can sort of see how I started today with eight pars and a birdie on the front nine. I just tried to stay really, really patient."
The explosive second-round performance has McIlroy back in great shape, as he attempts to finally complete the career grand slam and join the most exclusive club in golf. He sits tied for third, just two shots off Justin Rose's clubhouse lead.
