Rory McIlroy ready for Pebble Beach 'really important day' plus why he'll never make home a career 'shrine'

The Northern Ireland ace posted a birdie at the final hole of Friday’s second round to sit nine-under par off his 67 around Pebble Beach to follow up the opening Spyglass Hill’s 68 return.

It marked a fine finish having kicked off the round with an eagle on the second hole then additional birdies.

"I feel like I wasted a few shots out there or at least just wasn't efficient with my scoring and didn't capitalise on my good start the last couple of days," said McIlroy, as quoted on Sky Sports, with his Saturday tee-off 5.39pm UK time. "I played pretty good but with the weather coming in on Sunday, (Saturday's) going to be a really important day to get yourself in position.

"Sunday looks like it could be pretty messy and a lot of things could happen, so the closer you are to the lead Sunday the better.

"Even if I am a few behind going into Sunday, everyone will have a chance given those conditions."

And in the build-up to the tournament this week McIlroy revealed how photographic reflections at home of his career glory focus on the collective over individual memories.

Following a dream 2025 in which McIlroy wrote his name into golf history books by completing the grand slam with Masters joy, the home hero was out on the course aiming to mount a defence of another title from last year’s trophy haul – the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.

Speaking heading into the start of competitive play at a press conference McIlroy was asked about pictures commemorating his achievements.

“I'd say most of the golf pictures I have in my house are from Ryder Cups, more like group shots,” he said. “I think they're more meaningful, they're with more people.

"I don't want to have my house become a shine to myself, that's not really what I'm after when I go home.

"That's certainly not what (wife) Erica's after either, I don't think..yeah, I don't have many.”

One talking point around his Masters triumph that popped up in the pre-tournament chat was the Augusta tradition of asking for a special club from each winner’s collection.

“I didn't realize this, but I flew back the day after on the Monday and I basically didn't see my golf clubs since like post the play-off and I saw that my 7-iron was missing...Sean had already given it to the club, he just didn't tell me. That’s fine...if there was one I was going to give the club, it was probably going to be that one.”

When focus turned back to current events, McIlroy was asked to reflect on the Pebble Beach course.

“I think my favourite is the 10th hole here,” he said. “It's a very challenging hole, challenging tee shot, challenging second shot.

"I love that you can see the entire beach going into the Carmel there...that house at the back of the green, like the prettiest house in the world.”