McIlroy rallies to keep in touch with leader DeChambeau

Rory McIlroy battled illness and a poor start to remain in contention for a third US PGA title as Bryson DeChambeau set the clubhouse target at Oak Hill.

Starting on 10th, McIlroy's round appeared to be in danger of unravelling with three bogeys in four holes between 15 and 18.

Sitting on three-over, his third shot to the par-4 2nd charged through the back of the green, running down the steep slope behind. Saving bogey appeared a tall order but McIlroy proceeded to hole out audaciously from 35 feet for an unlikely par, much to his relief and even amusement and to the delight of the whooping galleries.

He then hit a brilliant tee shot to two feet on the next on his way to back-to-back birdies.

"It was massive," McIlroy said. "I was sort of just hoping to get down in two and make bogey and go to the third hole at four over par.

"When you walk off the green three over and then you hit a tee shot like that, all of a sudden the pendulum swings or momentum goes the other way and you feel like you're right back in the tournament.

"Depending on what happens over the next three days and what I go.

McIlroy reduced the 617-yard fourth hole to a drive and long iron to set up his second birdie of the day and although he three-putted the next, a birdie on the eighth helped complete a battling round despite being under the weather.

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"I'm fighting something," McIlroy said post-round.

"I thought I got a great night’s sleep last night and I looked at my Whoop (personal fitness monitor) and I was 22% recovery, and my skin temperature was 3.5 degrees higher than what it’s been.

"But I actually feel better today than I felt yesterday, so plenty of water and a bit of rest, I’ll be fine."

Shane Lowry endured a frustrating afternoon,