When you watch pro athletes in practice, untethered from pressure, the things they are capable of doing whether it's shooting baskets, or pucks or soccer balls or indeed golf balls is astonishing when compared to our normal every day efforts. That is why they are being paid millions of dollars.
Every now and then they get on a roll when they are playing for real, not in practice and those skills appear for all to see, the hole seems bigger, the drives are breathtaking, iron shots soar and stop right beside tight pins... they make it look easy, the pressure is off..
Yesterday was one of those days for Rory McIlroy and it resulted in an -11 61 to break the Quail Hollow record and take a four-shot lead in the Wells Fargo Championship. He had 9 birdies in 10 holes and flirted as early as the 13th with a magical 59. He smacked an astonishing drive 350 yards, driving the green on the par 4 14th that left even his fellow pros shaking their heads. When asked what he took away from McIlroy’s round, playing partner Will MacKenzie said: "That he’s way better than me at golf.”
He appears set to become the first two-time winner of the event. At -18 198, he’s on pace to shatter the tournament record of -16 set by Anthony Kim in 2008 and remember he holds the previous course record of 62 in the final round of his win here in 2010.
Webb Simpson is second, four strokes back after a 68. Robert Streb shot a 71 and is seven shots behind. Phil Mickelson was playing well before a triple bogey on the 18th hole resulting in a 71 leaving him 10 shots behind McIlroy and out of contention for a tournament he has never won.
Many of you know their have been six players who shot 59 in official play, but many do not know the record is held by Japan’s Ryo Ishikawa who shot the lowest round on a major tour, a -12 58 to win the 2010 Crowns on the Japan Tour
There have been many more who have done it in practice...
Bryan Angus (notes from BBC Reuters,AP...)
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