Rory McIlroy: Tracking His Progress Heading into Day 3 of the PGA Championship

All you need to know is Rory McIlroy gave three shots back to the field at the PGA Championship and is still in contention, three strokes back.

That was the kind of day McIlroy, the 23-year-old Northern Ireland native, had in the second day at Kiawah Island in South Carolina.

While the weather, most notably the winds from the ocean, created havoc for not only McIlroy, but most of the field during the second day in the PGA’s last major of the year.

And because of McIlroy’s recovery on the final few holes and the fact he survived a three-over 75 for the day, my hope of a McIlroy/Tiger Woods final paring on Sunday is still possible.

But seeing his expression after his bogey on the Par-4 15^th hole, it looked like a defeated golfer.

McIlroy recovered by shooting one-under on the last three holes to finish the day sixth overall after coming into the afternoon round second after his play on Thursday.

Can McIlroy, who already has bagged the U.S. Open of 2011, make a charge further up the ladder and claim another major before the age of 25?

That would be Tiger-like. And with a leader board that includes Woods, who is atop the board with 2012 Heritage winner Carl Pettersson, two strokes in front of McIlroy, the weather may again prove to be part of the deciding factor in who will be holding the title in two days.

McIlroy’s difficulties on the first six holes of the back nine were only magnified by the fact that Woods shot one-under for the day and the field tightened up because of the winds and weather that were virtually a non-factor yesterday.

The Par-72, 7,600 yard course did not relent in its degree of difficulty on Friday.

Vijay Singh proved to be the best of the day when he fired a three-under 69 for the day.

Can McIlroy catch lightning in a bottle and jump out to a early run of birdies and hope the field can tighten up even more? Will the winds continue to plague the professionals with their swing? Will scores continue climb and will we possibly see above par for the winning final tally?

Everything right now seems to be pointing to a roller coaster of a finish.

McIlroy, who is used to windy weather, having played in Europe and in Northern Island, had been quoted during the coverage by TBS Friday as not really enjoying the windy play overseas. Could that have rattled him?

Hopefully not.

And if he can right his problems that existed in his game Friday, he can still claim his second major of his career.

And hopefully I can see the one match up I have been waiting for.

Yes, McIlroy/Woods is still a strong possibility.