Rory cooks Sawgrass' back nine again to sit 2 back at The Players

Rory McIlroy would probably have more than just a lone Players Championship victory if he only played the famous back-9 on the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass.

McIlroy took apart that stretch of the golf course for the second straight day, making five birdies en route to a second-round 68.

He's now a combined 56-under with over 50 total strokes gained on that section since 2013, according to Justin Ray of the Twenty First Group. McIlroy is 7-over on the challenging front side during that stretch.

"The front nine is much harder," McIlroy told ASAP Sports. "Yeah, I just feel like you've got, it's a sort of, it's nine holes that sets up well for me. (No.) 11, par 5; 12, short par 4. Yeah, I definitely, over the years, have been a little more comfortable on that nine than the front nine, for sure."

McIlroy now has nine birdies and zero bogeys in 18 holes on the closing nine at TPC Sawgrass this week. He sits just two strokes off the clubhouse lead shared by Akshay Bhatia and Min Woo Lee.

The 35-year-old also had a much-improved ball-striking day Friday following a late-night range session after hitting only four fairways in Round 1.

"Hit it much better off the tee. I think I hit more fairways in six holes today than I did in 18 yesterday," McIlroy said. "Yeah, got it in play much better, and then from there was able to give myself some opportunities and, obviously, make some birdies early."

McIlroy is now primed to join some elite company as he makes a charge at his second Players Championship. Only Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus have won at least four majors and two Players Championships in their career.