Daniel Berger extended his lead to five shots at the Arnold Palmer Invitational as Rory McIlroy rallied in the second round.<\/p>\n
American Berger, 32, followed up his superb opening nine-under-par 63 – one short of the Bay Hill course record – by shooting a 68 to move to 13 under.<\/p>\n
Compatriot Akshay Bhatia is in second on eight under after carding a 66, the lowest round of the day in Orlando.<\/p>\n
Northern Irishman McIlroy went round in 68 to move to four under and a share of ninth place.<\/p>\n
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Berger, who has not won on the PGA Tour since 2021, put himself on course for the \u00a33m top prize thanks to a clean run on the back nine which included three birdies.<\/p>\n
“I actually feel like I played better [today] – the course was a little tougher,” he said.<\/p>\n
“I’m looking forward to the next couple of days and seeing the challenge they bring.”<\/p>\n
Americans Sahith Theegala and Collin Morikawa and Sweden’s Ludvig Aberg are tied for third on seven under, with American Ricky Fowler one shot further back.<\/p>\n
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McIlroy, who birdied four of the first seven holes on the back nine, said: “I played the last 10 holes really, really well.<\/p>\n
“Overall I am really pleased. I played a very sort of controlled, patient round of golf, which you need to do around here.”<\/p>\n
American world number one Scottie Scheffler bogeyed the 18th in a round of 71 that left him three under.<\/p>\n
England’s Tommy Fleetwood, who was four over after the first round, shot three birdies on the back nine in a second-round 69 to make the cut on one over.<\/p>\n
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