After missing the short grass again off the tee, McIlroy’s ball settled down in the pine straw to the right of the fairway. With water all down the left side, and plenty of trees in his way, it looked like McIlroy was destined for a bogey — or worse.

Lucas Glover, J.J. Spaun and Camilo Villegas each shot 6-under 66, but the top of the leaderboard is jammed after Thursday.