PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. — One is a natural fit. The other? Not so much.
Seeing Rory McIlroy’s name atop the Honda Classic leaderboard through two rounds Friday at PGA National is no surprise considering he won the event in 2012 and has made a rather emphatic statement this week that his game is back to the form that elevated him to the No. 1 world ranking when he won here in ’12.
Seeing Brendon de Jonge nipping at McIlroy ‘s heels and his lead at 11-under par, just one shot back at 10-under after shooting 64, is quite a surprise considering he has no wins in seven years on the PGA Tour and has only one runner-up finish in 186 career starts.
There are others in contention as the Honda Classic enters third-round play Saturday — though none are named Woods or Mickelson — but the spotlight after the second round is squarely on McIlroy and de Jonge.
Russell Henley (8-under) is three shots off the lead. Lee Westwood and Russell Knox (7-under) are four shots back and Jamie Donaldson, Ryan Palmer and William McGirt are five back at 6-under.
Tiger Woods survived a back-nine battle to make the cut on the number at even-par and is 11 back. Phil Mickelson failed to make the cut, finishing 1-over after a disappointing second-round 71.
McIlroy followed his opening-round 63 with a 66 on Friday despite a shaky start with bogeys on two of his first three holes.
“I didn’t panic,’’ McIlroy said. “I knew with the way I’m playing and with the confidence in my ability I would be able to get those shots back. I didn’t try to do anything different, just tried to keep playing the way I was.’’
It was, of course, good enough for that 63 on Thursday.
“I can see myself shoot scores here,’’ McIlroy said. “You know, I can see 63, 64, 65 out there, and maybe some guys can’t. There’s plenty of opportunities to make birdies.’’
And so he did. After the squirrelly start, McIlroy did not bogey another hole while carding six birdies the rest of the way.
Afterward, he called his ability to shake off the poor start “a sign of maturity, not really trying to force the issue or press.’’
His fellow Northern Irishman, Graeme McDowell, said McIlroy’s Honda Classic meltdown last year, when he quit in the middle of his second round out of frustration, “seems like a long time ago.’’
“It’s a long career,’’ McDowell said. “We all experience ups and downs, and it’s how you react to those downs that make great players. We’re seeing that he’s a great champion because he’s rebounded from what he learned last year. No one ever questioned the amount of talent that kid’s got. He’s one of the greatest maybe technically ever.
“It’s just a case of putting it all together. It’s a hard game and a long career and he’s obviously back to playing great stuff again. He got off to a bad start today and still shot 66. Good playing so far from the boy.’’
So, too, from de Jonge, the 33-year-old from Zimbabwe who all week has been staying in the home of his countryman, mentor and former PGA Tour star Nick Price. Price, in fact, gave de Jonge some key putting tips on Tuesday and de Jonge is ranked No. 2 in the field in strokes gained putting and No. 1 in distance putts made.
Though de Jonge has been starved for that first career win, he was not jumping out of his skin on Friday over his position near the top of the leaderboard.
“It’s early, it’s only Friday afternoon,’’ he said. “Obviously, it’s something I’m starting to think about a little bit more and more but, as I said, it’s still very early.’’
As for being paired with McIlroy’s star power in Saturday’s third-round final group?
“I feel very comfortable,’’ de Jonge said. “I’ve been out here long enough now. I’ve played quite a bit with Rory. I know obviously what a great player he is. I’m looking forward to [Saturday].’’