Steele leads as McIlroy struggles

BrendanSteele - Cropped

Brendan Steele holds a two-shot lead at The Honda Classic but rain and darkness led to the second round being cut short on Friday.

Rain and lightning led to play being stopped twice during the second round at the PGA National (Champion) in Palm Beach Gardens and several players not finishing.

Steele had birdied his first four holes but that was all he completed to sit at eight under and atop the leaderboard.

Patrick Reed shot a three-under 67 to be second at six under, one shot ahead of another American in Jim Herman (even through three holes).

One player unlikely to feature come the weekend is world number one Rory McIlroy.

The Northern Irishman produced a four-over 74 to be at seven over, tied for 103rd and likely to miss the cut at his first PGA Tour event of the season.

McIlroy had five bogeys and a birdie.

Englishman Luke Donald (67) is tied for fourth with countryman Ian Poulter (five under through eight) and Ireland's Padraig Harrington (one under through six).

Russell Knox continued his consistent start to the event, shooting a 68 to be three under and tied for seventh.

Martin Flores is alongside him after the American was even through five holes.

Swede David Lingmerth only played three holes and was even par, leaving him at two under and outright ninth.

A group of nine players are a further shot back, with only Daniel Summerhays (68), Robert Garrigus (69), Paul Casey (70) and Jamie Donaldson (71) having completed their rounds.

Author(s)