Rory McIlroy - Photo: © F.FROGER / 3Ds

To remember :

• Author of a 66 (-5) card, world number 4 Rory McIlroy joined the tournament head at -5
• He shares orders with Thongchai Jaidee, Mikko Ilonen, Brandon Stone and Jeunghun Wang
• Thirteenth, Adrien Saddieris the first Frenchman in the ranking, just three shots from the head

We found the great Rory McIlroy this Friday at the Golf National! After a first round in the par (71) on Thursday, the former world number 1 demonstrated that he was once again in full control of his game during the second round of the 100th French Open. Impressive in all sectors, the Northern Irishman delivered a true recital on a course of the Albatross still as demanding. A sixth birdie at 14, after those made at holes 3, 6, 7, 9 and 13, allowed him to temporarily take the lead on his own. But his only mistake of the day, a bogey in the 18th consecutive to a drive in the water, brought him down to -5 total with a card of 66 (-5), the best of the day. “I'm bound to be disappointed with how I finished, but I can't let that hide the fact that I played really well. It won't be the last bogey that I will do this week, but I hope to be able to clear it quickly tomorrow and take back the controls alone ”, said the recent winner of the Irish Open.

Only one man has managed to tie McIlroy's 66 (-5): Jeunghun Wang, author like the Northern Irishman of six birdies and a bogey. The 20-year-old Korean is no longer an unknown as he won the Hassan II Trophy and the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open in quick succession in May. Among the five leaders, we find another golfer full of future: the South African Brandon Stone, winner at the start of the season in his national open, who played 68 (-3). The other two members of the leading quintet are the experienced Thongchai Jaidee (45 years old, 7 wins on the European circuit) and Mikko Ilonen (36 years old, 5 wins). The Thai, second after the first round, played 70 (-1) this Friday, while the Finn scored 68 (-3) to move up from 10th place.

As for French, the sensation of the first Mathieu Decottignies-Lafon conceded a 73 (+2) to fall back to 18th position at -1 overall. A place he shares with Alexander Levy, author of a solid 69 (-2). But the best Habs after two rounds is Challenge Tour player Adrien Saddier, who made 17 pars and a birdie to return a card of 70 (-1), the second in a row. The 24-year-old Haut-Savoyard, 13th at -2 overall, enjoys: “Today it was a little less windy which made things a little easier, but I'm still happy to have managed a day without a bogey. I am always happy to play on this course which will host the Ryder Cup, in front of the French public ”. Among the 66 players who crossed the cut, set at +3 total, ten Frenchmen qualified for the last two rounds Saturday and Sunday.

Finally, it should be noted that after the hole-in-one made Thursday by the Dane Lucas Bjerregaard, it was the Irishman Paul Dunne who achieved a similar feat on Friday, sending an iron shot4 of 181 meters directly into the hole at 8 !