Rory McIlroy feels he is starting to find more confidence in his game after a much-improved second round at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. McIlroy looked in danger of missing the cut after struggling to an opening-round 75 at Bay Hill, only to bounce back with a birdie-filled 67 on Friday to move back in to contention. Leaderboard Arnold Palmer Invitational The Northern Irishman was left surprised by his slow start to the tournament on Thursday, where he double-bogeyed the first and found the water three times, but had plenty more to smile about after a far more consistent display both tee to green and with the putter. McIlroy still sits 11 shots adrift of runaway leader Jason Day, although six birdies and just one blemish has given the 26-year-old plenty of encouragement heading in to the weekend.I said after yesterdays round I was just trying to stay patient and came out and started off really solid and kept it up, McIlroy said. I drove the ball nicely and hit a lot of good quality shots into the greens. Its very easy to get ahead of myself, especially with how Ive played earlier this year.You can get a little bit caught up in it sometimes but you just have to make sure youre doing the right things, youre working hard, youre working towards that goal and the last few days has been fantastic.Beginning on the back nine, McIlroy made the perfect start by holing a 15-footer at the 10th before draining another birdie from slightly further out at the par-5 12th. Rory McIlroy says he is going to focus on his own game over the weekend and not worry about chasing the leading pack at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. Having tapped-in from close range over the next two, the Northern Irishman pitched to 10 feet at the 15th to move back level par for the week.McIlroys red-hot putting suffered a slight blip with a two-putt par from six feet at 16, but the world No 3 bounced back to drain a 14-foot par-save at the 18 and reach the turn in 33.After drilling in from over 30 feet at the first to get back under par for the week, McIlroy continued to surge up the leaderboard when pitched close to the third flag and leave a kick-in birdie. McIlroy was pleased with his improvement McIlroy recovered from a wayward approach to get up-and-down from the sand and save par at the next, before posting another long-range birdie from 25 feet at the fifth.His only blemish of the day came when he misjudged his chip out of the rough at the short seventh and failed to save par from 15 feet, with McIlroy closing his round with two two-putt pars.I had one kick-in on three but for the most part played the par-fives great again and just putted great, McIlroy added.The two bombs that I holed today on 17 and nine definitely helped, but I felt like these sorts of scores were coming, so I just had to be patient with myself.Watch the Arnold Palmer Invitational throughout the week live on Sky Sports 4 - your home of golf Also See: Bay Hill leaderboard First round highlights Slow start shocks McIlroy Golf live on Sky Sports 4 Sports Jerseys From China .C. -- Authorities say the brother of Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Roddy White has been shot and killed outside a South Carolina nightclub. College Tom Brady Jersey . JOHNS, N. https://www.sportsstarsjerseys.com/michael-jordan-jersey/. But sometimes the way you lose takes precedence over the final score. And how the Jets lost the 5-4 game to the New York Islanders on Thursday is what had Coach Claude Noel hot after the game. Michael Jordan Jersey Throwback . Notes on Bergeron, Marchand, Gorges, Vanek, Gaborik, Doughty, Hiller and more. BRUINS STORM BACK TO TAKE GAME TWO The Boston Bruins rallied from a 3-1 deficit, scoring four unanswered goals, to win Game Two, 5-3 over the Montreal Canadiens. Tom Brady Jersey Nike . Instead, Nonis and Kessel were sorting through the fallout of a wild melee with the Buffalo Sabres, one that saw Kessel suspended for the duration of the pre-season.CLEVELAND - The mistakes were inexcusable. Brian Hoyer didnt need anyone to tell him that.Clevelands quarterback spent part of Sunday beating himself up over his three interceptions before atoning for them by leading the Browns to a comeback win that could grow in significance as this season goes on.On Monday, Hoyers errors hadnt been forgotten. However, they had certainly been forgiven.I think the guys realize we wouldnt be where we are right now without Brian and that nobody is perfect, coach Mike Pettine said. When you see a guy whos that hard on himself and is that much of a perfectionist it means a lot and they are going to play for him.Hoyer may have saved Clevelands season — and maybe his job — with his gutty comeback in Atlanta. After throwing two interceptions in the fourth quarter, the second one leading to a field goal that gave the Falcons a 24-23 lead, Hoyer completed four passes in the final 44 seconds and drove the Browns in position to set up Billy Cundiffs 37-yard field goal as time expired.Before taking the field, wide receiver Andrew Hawkins said Hoyer, who had feared he had let his teammates down, gave them a quick pep talk.Brian was super poised, and before we went out there he said, Cmon guys, lets go down there and win this, Hawkins said. You know when Brian says that he means it so guys just stepped up to the plate.Following the game, Hoyer showed disgust and disappointment as he replayed the picks during an interview session. He was down despite the win, but Pettine said the QBs public acknowledgment of his miscues not only showed Hoyers leadership but a how close-knit the Browns have become.I just think thats what one of the biggest reasons why we are where we are, Pettine said. Guys care about each other, and they realize that theyre part of something bigger than themselves. I think that when youre involved in a team sport and you have that you have a chance to be special.Pettine said he never considered pulling Hoyer in favour of rookie backup Johnny Manziel.One of the leagues bigger surprises, the Browns (7-4) are in playoff contention and playing relevant games late in the season because of Hoyer, who also had Pro Bowl wide receiverr Josh Gordon on the field Sunday for the first time this season.dddddddddddd.Gordon caught eight passes for 120 yards, and his presence alone opened running and passing lanes.In the end, it was Hoyer who made the biggest plays, bouncing back from what he called the worst game of my career to deliver his fifth career fourth-quarter comeback win in just 14 starts.Hawkins said Hoyer has instilled a belief in the Browns.Ive said it before: I dont think theres ever a time during a game when we think were out of it because we have No. 6 running the show, said Hawkins, who had five catches for 93 yards. Its not just him. The guys around him are all busting their butts, but theres no question about it, hes the leader on offence. When you have confidence in your leader and he has confidence in himself and the rest of the team, the sky is really the limit on any given Sunday.On any given Sunday, the Browns are liable to make things interesting. Theyve had five games decided by three points or less and following the win in the Georgia Dome, Pettine could relax knowing that he, too, had overcome some coaching mistakes.Hoyer bailed himself and out, and everyone around him.Brian is very difficult on himself, Pettine said. Hes a competitor. Hes a perfectionist, and I just think in a sense he felt that...he was letting his teammates down with some of the plays that he had made. Sure, it obviously affected him, but I just think the way he handled it was outstanding — the resolve.Its a testament to his mental toughness and the teams mental toughness.NOTES: Pettine credited rookie OG Joel Bitonios hustling tackle for saving him when I lost my mind right before the half and decided to go for the 60-yarder. Cundiffs first attempt from 60 was short, but didnt count when the Falcons called time. Pettine had Cundiff try again, and Devin Hester returned it 75 yards and would have scored if not for Bitonio. That can end up being the play of the year for us, Pettine said. It makes my decision look not nearly as bad as it was. ... The Bills said Ralph Wilson Stadium will be ready for the Browns visit on Sunday.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL ' ' '