Rory McIlroy makes feelings clear on 'not great' PGA Championship setup
Rory McIlroy has made his feelings clear on a "not great setup" at the PGA Championship.
The Masters Champion bounced back from a poor opening round of 74 in round one to record a bogey-free 67 at Aronimink Golf Club.
The Northern Irishman was critical of how the competition has been organised and how tightly packed the field is.
He told reporters after his second round: "I think a bunched leaderboard like this, I think it's a sign of not a great set-up.
"I think when it's as bunched as it is, it hasn't really enabled anyone to separate themselves.
"It's easy to make a ton of pars, hard to make birdies. Not that it's hard to make bogey, but it feels like bogey's the worst score you're going to shoot on any one hole. There's not a lot of hazards.
"I think the set-up is fine - the golf course is good, the pins were tough, and the wind was what it was as well.
"I've always felt like really good set-ups start to spread the field a bit, and not great set-ups sort of bring everyone together. I feel like that's what's happened the last two days."
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The world number two also felt the pin positions were very difficult, suggesting that organisers were "really trying to protect the course".
He said: "It has been hard to make birdies out there because obviously the wind the last couple days, but also where they have put these hole locations.
"It seems like they have used up a lot of the really hard ones [pins]. Depending upon a little bit calmer conditions and maybe a couple more favourable hole locations, I think guys that are just here for the weekend - I think everyone's got to feel like they have got a chance.
"It's bunched, but you get on a run with wedges on that front nine and you shoot four of five under and all of a sudden you're right in the thick of things. At five back I do feel like I'm right in the tournament, and that's really what I wanted to do today."
Commenting on the pace of play, the Northern Irishman said: "It was slow.
"I think that [Theegala's lost ball] was what definitely delayed us in the middle of that round. There's a few little parts of the course that you can sort of get jammed on, but it's fine.
"It seems like that's the first two days of major championship golf are always going to be like that. You get that afternoon tee time on Friday at Augusta, and it's one of the slowest rounds of the year.
"You don't mind being out there because it's Augusta, but at the same time, it is very, very slow."
McIlroy recorded three birdies in the second round to head into the weekend at one-over-par.
Only eight shots separate the lead and cut mark of four-over-par, which equals the smallest margin in PGA Championship history.
McIlroy is partnered with three-time PGA Championship winner Brooks Koepka, scheduled to tee off at 4pm BST.
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