HOYLAKE, England — After 18 holes had passed on a wet and gloomy Saturday at Royal Liverpool Golf Club, Max Homa and Rory McIlroy were separated by only one shot, but their outlooks on their games felt worlds apart.
McIlroy beelined to the putting green as soon as he could after his finish. With onlookers peering out of the clubhouse windows, McIlroy wore his frustration on his face as his caddie, Harry, stood behind him on every practice putt and watched how he lined up.
As soon as he missed one, McIlroy swung his putter in the air in disappointment, as if he was still out there on the course.
It had been that kind of day for McIlroy. And Homa too. Both missed their share of putts inside 20, 15, even 10 feet. Both likely realized deep down inside that, with Brian Harman leading at 12 under and the two of them 9 and 10 shots back, they weren't going to have a shot on Sunday.