Rory McIlroy comments on two-shot penalty he received in Abu Dhabi after firing superb 63 on day two

Rory McIlroy delivered an extraordinary second-round 63 during the Abu Dhabi Aldar Championship, putting him back in contention with just one shot behind the leaders heading into the weekend. The six-time major winner shot an impressive 11 birdies, two bogeys, and five pars in his outstanding round. McIlroy had faced significant challenges in the opening round, receiving a two-stroke penalty after he was deemed to have improved his lie in the rough on the 12th hole, resulting in a quadruple bogey eight.

This setback threatened his chances of winning the Race To Dubai for the 8th time. However, McIlroy quickly recovered with his stellar performance on Friday, giving himself a strong chance to contend over the weekend.

Following his remarkable round, McIlroy addressed the media in Abu Dhabi and discussed his handling of the two-shot penalty. He stated that he tried to "make peace with it" and not dwell on the incident, clarifying that he did not feel he had done anything wrong. McIlroy expressed concern about the potential perception of cheating but assured that it wouldn't weigh on his conscience.

He acknowledged that his start to Friday was not ideal, having taken an unplayable at the first hole and making a bogey. Nonetheless, McIlroy emphasized that he had to move forward and focus on the present round, describing himself as having a "clear conscience" and being able to "just go and play."

When inquired about whether he felt unfairly treated on Thursday, McIlroy responded that it wasn't the case. He mentioned that he had to navigate an unplayable situation at the first hole, resulting in a bogey. Despite a shaky start, McIlroy quickly regained his form, attributing his resurgence to feeling confident in his ability to "play my way back into the tournament." He concluded by expressing satisfaction in his performance, stating that he had played well enough to regain his footing in the competition.