The rumor mill started with changed profile pictures on Twitter, but Rory McIlroy denied he and girlfriend Caroline Wozniacki had split up.
“Uh-huh, yeah, it’s all good,” McIlroy said last night after playing 16 holes of his second round at The Barclays in 5-under par, getting him to five back of Matt Kuchar’s lead at Liberty National. “Just because we changed our Twitter profile picture doesn’t mean that we’re not together. But yeah, it’s all good.”
McIlroy and Wozniacki reportedly started dating in July 2011, and had made many public appearances together. Wozniacki is getting into town today, when she will start preparing for the U.S. Open. McIlroy said he doesn’t know if she will come to spectate, but he will stick around Monday and Tuesday to go watch the tennis at Flushing Meadows.
McIlroy hasn’t won on any tour this year after two consecutive seasons with one major championship apiece. Considered the heir apparent to Tiger Woods’ throne, McIlroy signed a mega-endorsement deal with Nike this offseason and has struggled to adapt to new equipment and new stardom.
“When I hit a bad shot a few months ago, I was wondering what it was, what was going on,” McIlroy said. “I now sort of understand what I’m doing with my swing and it’s easier to get over.”
* Phil Mickelson is a member of Liberty National, but isn’t exactly taking advantage of any local knowledge.
The reigning Open Championship winner finished the opening two rounds at 2-under, eight back of the lead.
“I think more than familiarity, it’s how much you like the golf course,” he said. “I love this golf course. I think it’s very well done, and without the rough, it plays — I would equate it to like Augusta National.
“If Augusta had rough and 24-yard wide fairways, I don’t think it would be a very fun or great golf course, and you [would] have the same criticism you had here in ’09. Now with the rough and the [extended] first cut, I think the subtleties and nuances of the golf course are coming out, and it’s spectacular.”
* Brandt Snedeker is the defending FedEx Cup champion and came into this week ranked second in the playoff standings. Yet he will have the indignity of showing up early this morning to finish off his disappointing tournament, sitting at 2-over and outside of the even-par cut line. … Kevin Stadler didn’t sleep on his lead too well, as the first-round leader was 2-over on his second round when play was halted due to darkness. He is now 5-under for the tournament. … Lucas Glover, the 2009 U.S. Open winner at Bethpage, withdrew because of a wrist injury. … Though there is still some golf to be played in the second round, the projected cut line is even-par. That would leave some notable names on the outside looking in, including Angel Cabrera, Ernie Els, Ian Poulter and Dustin Johnson.