Q. A round of 67. 5-under par. How does that one leave you feeling?
RORY McILROY: Yeah, pretty good. I think I'm in a great spot heading into the weekend. Playing a bit better today than I did yesterday. I hit a lot more fairways. Felt like I drove the ball better. Gave myself a few more chances. Didn't feel like I was scrambling my way around most of the day today. Solid round and I'm in a good spot heading into the last two days.
Q. You told you us you worked on a few things in your golf swing. How difficult is that to balance that and play at the same time when you don't want to be thinking about your swing?
RORY McILROY: I think with the conditions and it being blustery, it forces you not to think of a swing and to think of trajectory and sort of what you're trying to do with the ball. But you know, I've been doing this now for a few weeks, and I feel like I've got a good in-play feeling for what I'm trying to do or a good thought.
Yeah, you know, since I've been trying to make a couple of changes, I've played pretty good. A couple of top 5s to finish the PGA TOUR season, and then didn't -- I actually felt like I hit the ball pretty well at The Irish Open last week. I just didn't putt particularly well.
But I've seen some encouraging signs again this week, and at least I know I'm on the right path and heading in the right direction. I keep saying it's going to take probably -- it's taken me five or six months to get into this habit. It will probably take me the same amount of time to get out of it but I'm committed to doing that.
Q. You're trying to equal Monty's record of eight Race to Dubai Championships, clearly lying second and Patrick Reed had to pull out today, injured, unfortunately. There's an opportunity for you. How motivated are you to get after him and get that title?
RORY McILROY: Yeah, look, I'm motivated regardless of who it is. Obviously Patrick and I have had quite the battles over years, whether it be Ryder Cup, final round in a major. Dubai Desert Classic a few years ago. He's a great competitor and he's played great all year. I respect him for how he's went about it, and coming through here, he's put his head down and done the work, and it's actually been really good to see.
Unfortunately he's pulled out this week, which gives me an opportunity to try to claw back some ground that I lost last week in Ireland. This weekend is a big weekend for me to pick up a few points and make the race even tighter going into these last few weeks.
Q. Your thoughts going into the weekend?
RORY McILROY: Yeah, Ryan's played great, obviously. I feel like our side of the draw I think got some is of the worst of the conditions. So to come through that side of the draw, what he's done, and he's played that sort of golf, but four behind isn't too much going into the weekend and I'm excited for the opportunity.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports