It took 27 holes, but Rory McIlroy is beginning to find his Masters form.
The No.2 player in the world heated up on the back nine Friday at Quail Hollow and finished with a four-under 67 to climb into contention.
He is four shots behind 36-hole leader Sungjae Im, who is at nine-under 133.
Playing his first tournament since winning the green jacket for a second time on April 12 at Augusta National, McIlroy was one under and eight shots back when he made the turn.
But birdies at No.10 and 11 got him rolling and he seemed to feed off the energy from the crowd, just as he's done in his previous four wins in Charlotte, where he has a large following.
McIlroy's approach shots got closer and closer, and he added birdies on Nos.13, 15 and 16. He shot 32 on the back nine despite lipping out his par putt on the par-4 18th hole after finding a greenside bunker.
"It was a good day to get myself back in the hunt, and feel like I have a real chance going into the weekend," McIlroy said.
At one point, McIlroy hit 14 straight greens in regulation - a personal course record.
"I started to make some good swings, especially with the irons," McIlroy said. "I played one tournament in seven weeks, so I think just getting the reps under my belt a little bit and getting a scorecard in my hand.
"I feel like your patterns on the golf course are always a little bit different than your patterns on the range, or it is for me anyway."
McIlroy isn't the only big name in contention.
Tommy Fleetwood shot 67 for the second straight day and trailed Im by one shot. Justin Thomas was two back along with PGA Tour newcomer Alex Fitzpatrick, the brother of Matt Fitzpatrick.
Rickie Fowler vaulted into the mix with the day's low round of eight-under 63, which included nine birdies.
Cameron Young, a two-time winner on the PGA Tour this year, shot 70 and is five back.
South Korean Im followed an opening seven-under 64 with a 69 as he looks for his first tour win since 2021 in Las Vegas.
"I know this course very well, so I'm taking advantage of that," Im said. "And then the scrambling, because of the play with the Presidents Cup, I know where to miss the greens, I'm very familiar with this golf course."
Chandler Blanchet had the shot of the day, a hole-in-one on the par-3 17th hole.
Australian Min Woo Lee improved on his opening 72 with a three-under 69. It moved him 14 spots up the field in a tie for 29th, eight off the pace.
Jason Day (75, 69) and Adam Scott (76, 69) are at two over and three over respectively.
12°C