Northern Irish golf star Rory McIlroy played such a sublime second round of golf at the PGA Championship that he had defending champion Alex Noren quipping about early retirement.
The 29-year-old quadruple major winner carded a bogey free seven-under par 65 to move to 12 under and a three-shot lead over young Englishman Sam Horsfield and French journeyman Sebastien Gros, who came in late in the day with a superb 66.
Noren -- who played in the same group as the Ulsterman and, like him and playing partner Lee Westwood, stayed clear of bogeys -- may have been joking about quitting. But he was in awe of McIlroy's round.
"That's the best round I've ever seen. I'm about to quit golf I think," said Noren.
Noren sits five shots off McIlroy but the Swede will be well aware that after his stunning 62 last year, which saw him come from way off the pace to seal victory, anything is possible.
McIlroy, though, likes being out in front going into the weekend even if he, like Noren, staged a last-round blitz to come from seven shots off the lead to win in 2014.
"Obviously I have the confidence that I'm playing well and I can go out and try to, I guess, just replicate what I did the day before," said McIlroy.
"On the first tee box tomorrow (Saturday), I'll be thinking about what I did today and trying to just keep the same thoughts and make the same swings.
"You know, I went a couple better today than I did yesterday. (I am) not sure I'll keep the same progression going but something similar tomorrow would be nice."
- 'Hard to catch' -
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"I'm just looking forward to tomorrow, whether I'll be playing with Rory or whoever I end up playing with, I'm going to go out there and give it my all."
"Just have to keep doing until the last two rounds to catch Rory."
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