The Northern Irishman handled the challenging conditions well, including a three-hour rain delay, birdied twice in his first three holes and immediately after the break. McIlroy nearly went bogey-free except for a slip at the par-3 16th, before birdying the 17th to reclaim a share of the lead. "I've started to just really enjoy this style of golf," McIlroy said. "I wouldn't say I enjoy them, but I can certainly handle them better."
Aaron Rai eventually passed him with a birdie late on Thursday night right before play was suspended for the day due to darkness. McIlroy's strong start puts him in contention at the signature event, where he appears to have adapted his game to handle the challenging Riviera layout in adverse weather conditions.