|
 McIlroy fired a three-under-par 67, putting him in a tie with
American's Jordan Spieth and Gary Woodland before play was stopped
with nine players yet to complete their rounds at Cherry Hills
Country Club just outside Denver.
It was a surprising top score after plenty of competitors, including
McIlroy, had suggested earlier in the week that much lower numbers
could be attainable at the third of the PGA Tour's four lucrative
FedExCup playoff events.
Americans Billy Horschel, Russell Henley, Chesson Hadley, Kevin
Chappell and Matt Every plus two-times major winner Martin Kaymer of
Germany, Canadian Graham DeLaet and Spain's Sergio Garcia were part
of a group of nine players one shot back.
Defending FedExCup champion Henrik Stenson of Sweden was also at
two-under with a hole to play.
The 25-year-old McIlroy started on the back nine, claiming birdies
on the 12th and 17th holes for a respectable 34 before he caught
fire at the turn.
Birdies at the first, second and third holes catapulted him into the
lead at five-under before he capped his round with consecutive
bogeys.
"I'm a little frustrated coming off the course, because I feel like
it should have been better than what I finished," said McIlroy. "A
sloppy bogey or two out there.
"I felt like I hit a good drive off of seven, and I got into a bit
of a tricky spot and made bogey there. And then to make a bogey
straight after that, I was a bit frustrated with it."
With the short course affected by altitude many experts predicted
low numbers but firm and fast greens ensured the historic old course
held its own.
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"It's tricky, it really is," said McIlroy. "The altitude, we have had a
couple of days to adjust to that and it's fine but these greens have
gotten so much firmer over the last 24 hours."
Spieth, the 21-year-old young gun, bettered McIlroy with six birdies but
had three bogeys to find his place at the top.
He nailed two birdies in his final four holes in what he described as a
stress-free round.
"Anything under par is a good score so I was really pleased," said
Spieth. "My short game's never been as good as it was today."
The top 30 players on the FedExCup points list after the BMW
Championship advance to next week's season-ending Tour Championship,
where any of the top five would automatically clinch FedExCup honours
and a staggering $10 million bonus with victory in Atlanta.
(Editing by Frank Pingue)
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