The world number two says the sport needs to work on ‘moving forward together’

The lead was soon doubled as Viktor Hovland and rookie Ludvig Aberg enjoyed victory.

McIlroy recorded five birdies at Oakdale Golf and Country Club to improve to six under par, three shots off the midway lead held by China’s Carl Yuan.

Tyrrell Hatton and Tommy Fleetwood and in third and fifth place.

The Spaniard’s two-shot victory over England’s Tyrrell Hatton and Sweden’s Alex Noren was his third in six years at Jumeirah Golf Estates

McIlroy can return to the top of the rankings for the first time since July 2020

Dustin Johnson set the early clubhouse target after a second-round 67.

The former champion remained six over par early in his second round