GB's Fleetwood shares lead but McIlroy six back
- Published
Paris 2024 Olympics leaderboard, round two
-11 Matsuyama (Jpn), Schauffele (US), Fleetwood (GB); -9 Rahm (Spa); -8 Pan (Tpe), Detry (Bel), Kim (Kor)
Selected others: -6 Scheffler (US); -5 McIlroy (Ire), Fitzpatrick (GB); -4 Aberg (Swe); level Lowry (Ire)
Great Britain's Tommy Fleetwood moved into contention for a medal in the Olympic men's golf event with a second-round 64 as Rory McIlroy failed to mount a charge at Le Golf National in Paris.
While Fleetwood finished with a bogey, he carded six birdies and an eagle to sit alongside Japan's Hideki Matsuyama and American reigning champion Xander Schauffele on 11 under par at the halfway mark of the 72-hole strokeplay competition.
It was a frustrating day for McIlroy, however, with a two-under 69 leaving him six shots adrift of the leaders.
The Team Ireland golfer carded an eagle, four birdies, two bogeys and a double in another up-and-down round on the course that hosted Europe's 2018 Ryder Cup win.
Despite two bogeys on his first round, overnight leader Matsuyama reached 13 under but a double-bogey six on the last after finding water saw him relinquish the outright lead.
World number two Schauffele, who has won two majors this year, recorded seven birdies and two bogeys in a five-under 66.
Spain's two-time major winner Jon Rahm sits fourth on nine under after improving his opening 67 by a shot.
Fleetwood, who is hoping to emulate 2016 champion Justin Rose by winning gold for Great Britain, built impressively on his opening 67 with an eagle and three birdies in an outward nine of 31.
Further birdies followed on the 13th, 16th and 17th but the world number 14 was unable to save par at the last after an errant tee shot.
Fleetwood has shone at Le Golf National before, winning the 2017 French Open before claiming four points alongside Francesco Molinari at the 2018 Ryder Cup.
Great Britain's Matt Fitzpatrick also shot his way back into the mix as the 2022 US Open champion rebounded from an opening 73 to match Fleetwood's 64 and sit alongside McIlroy on five under.
McIlroy, who missed out on a bronze medal in a play-off on his Olympic debut in Tokyo, started strongly with an eagle and a birdie in his first five holes.
But his next birdie, on the ninth, was sandwiched between two dropped shots and he was made to wait until the 16th before picking up another shot.
The four-time major winner found trouble with his drive on the 17th, leading to a costly double bogey, before a superb approach at the last set up a closing birdie.
World number one Scottie Scheffler is at six under while McIlroy's Team Ireland team-mate Shane Lowry's second straight 71 left him on level par.
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