Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat redeemed himself with a second round 3-under 69 at THE PLAYERS Championship on Friday, a 15-shot improvement following a disastrous opening 84.

 

 

Kiradech, the first Thai to hold a PGA TOUR card, made six birdies at THE PLAYERS Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass, including one on the signature par-3 17th hole which has proven to be a bane in two appearances in the TOUR’s flagship US$12.5 million event.

 

Following his punctuated week here, the 29-year-old will take next week off before teeing up at the World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play in Austin Country Club, Texas from March 27 to 31. Kiradech qualified for the quarter-finals last year.

 

He found some solace with his career third round in the 60s at TPC Sawgrass. “The way I’m playing is not much different from yesterday. I struck the ball quite well yesterday, hit it on target but my short game was quite disappointing. It was below my standard. I couldn’t get up and down from anywhere and my putting, I couldn’t hole putts,” said Kiradech.

 

 

Rory McIlroy charged up the leaderboard on the back nine, firing a seven-under 65 on Friday to grab a share of the lead with Tommy Fleetwood at the halfway stage of the Players Championship.

 

 

 

 

McIlroy, of Northern Ireland, went seven under par on his final 11 holes, making an eagle on the par-five 16th, a birdie on the par-three 17 and par on the par-four closing hole to reach a 12-under 132 total.

 

He is tied with England's Fleetwood who shot a five-under 67 for his sixth straight round under par.

 

"It was just another good day on the golf course. I did everything pretty much the way I wanted to," McIlroy said. "My attitude has been great all year."

 

Ian Poulter (66), Jim Furyk (64), Brian Harman (69) and Abraham Ancer (66) are tied for third at nine-under 135 at the TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.

 

 

 

 

Australia's Jason Day shot a 66 and is tied for seventh with Keith Mitchell and Kevin Kisner at eight-under 136.