Rory McIlroy hails ‘ultimate pro’ Tiger Woods for making halfway cut at US PGA

Rory McIlroy failed to take advantage of a favourable draw before hailing Tiger Woods as the “ultimate pro” for fighting back to make the halfway cut in the 104th US PGA Championship.

McIlroy could only add a second round of 71 to his opening 65 at Southern Hills, despite being part of the early-late wave of players who enjoyed by far the best of the conditions over the first two days in Tulsa.

That left the four-time major winner five shots off the pace set by Will Zalatoris, who compiled a flawless 65 in the group ahead of McIlroy to enjoy a one-shot lead over Chile’s Mito Pereira, who returned a superb 64 in just his second major appearance.

Former champion Justin Thomas had set the early target on six under after battling the blustery conditions to card a second consecutive 67, with tournament officials opting not to cut the greens due to the forecast for winds to gust up to 40mph.

The same forecast also accurately predicted that the wind would die down in the afternoon, but it took McIlroy 12 holes to record his first – and only – birdie of the day as his bid for a first major victory since 2014 faltered.

Playing partner Woods, who won the 13th of his 15 majors the last time Southern Hills hosted the US PGA in 2007, looked set to miss the cut when he ran up a double bogey on the par-three 11th.

However, the 46-year-old – who suffered severe leg injuries in a car accident in February last year – rallied in typical fashion to play the remaining seven holes in two under to shoot 69 and make the cut with a shot to spare.

“It’s just unbelievable making the cut at Augusta and making the cut here,” McIlroy said of Woods.

“I was joking with Joey (La Cava, Woods’ caddie) saying he could have came back and played like Honda