McIlroy bounces back from missing the cut at WGC-Workday Championship

Rory McIlroy doesn’t miss many halfway cuts but when he does, he usually puts on a show the following week. On the last five occasions where he’s had the weekend off he’s spent the time well — bouncing back in his next event to collect two wins, two top fours and a 12th place finish.

Hopes are high, therefore, at the WGC-Workday Championship in Florida of another sparkling display from the Northern Irishman, following a miserable showing at the Genesis Invitational in Los Angeles last week where he finished tied 114th in a field of 120.

Starting from the 10th, the 31 year old certainly began well on Thursday, rebounding from his Hollywood horror show with a confident opening nine.

Rory McIlroy rebounded from his Hollywood setback with a confident opening nine in Florida

This saw him reach the turn in only 33 strokes to dispute the early lead.

Just when you thought he would complete a round filled with fireworks, however, a couple of familiar faults reared up on his back nine.

He missed three short putts, struck a couple of poor iron shots and the round threatened to get away from him at one stage. But he dug in and sank a couple of gutsy putts on the 6th and 7th to post a 69 guaranteed to leave him in a useful spot after the first round.

It was certainly a score that world No 1 Dustin Johnson, struggling on five over through 17, would have taken.

Matt Fitzpatrick raced into a tie for the early lead at the WGC-Workday Championship

Matt Fitzpatrick is so overdue a first victory in America there must be every chance of the Englishman breaking through during this lucrative run of six events leading up to the Masters.

The gifted 26 year old from Sheffield followed up his fine victory in Dubai in December with fifth place in Los Angeles last week.

His strengths lie in his laser-straight driving and wonderful touch on the greens. Both were on show as he raced into a tie for the early lead alongside former US Open champion Webb Simpson and Australian Cameron Smith, moving to five under par after 13 holes.

What a contrast to Matt Wolff, the prodigious American who finished second in the US Open last year and moved into the world’s top 15 in his first year as a pro. There was no sign of such prowess on this occasion. Just the opposite in fact.

In his first seven holes, he had a three, four, five, six, seven and an eight on his card. He added a two on the back nine but a couple more sevens as well. He was 12 over par, would you believe, after only 14 holes.

The really bad news for Wolff is that this event has no halfway cut.