the equalizer. Hoffman took a stretch pass from Bobby Ryan in the neutral zone,

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 Benoit Pouliot Jersey . 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His performances have sparked a debate about where his international future lies.MADRID, Spain -- Atletico Madrid brought back Diego to strengthen its Spanish league title push, while Valencia witnessed a series of arrivals and exits from the club as the January transfer window closed on Friday. Atletico signed the Brazilian midfielder on loan from Wolfsburg until the end of the season. Diego previously played under coach Diego Simeone during the 2011/12 season, helping Atletico win the Europa League title that season. Diego said he was overwhelmed by the return to Atletico as it bids for a first league title since 1996, while also competing in the knockout stages of the Champions League and the Copa del Rey. "It was only a matter of time before Atletico got to where it is," Diego said. "I had already seen the potential of this team and this club when I was here before." Diegos arrival meant midfielder Oliver Torres playing time was certain to dip, so Atletico loaned the promising teenage talent to Villarreal. With neither Barcelona nor Real Madrid making any last-ditch transfer moves, Valencia took the spotlight as it looks to turn around a bitterly disappointing season that has left it 17 points adrift of the Champions League places. The club unloaded a handful of underperforrming players -- including Argentina midfielder Ever Banega -- and added several recruits, including former Barcelona midfielder Seydou Keita.dddddddddddd Valencia was active from Thursday when it signed Keita and striker Eduardo Vargas from Napoli while loaning out forwards Dorlan Pablon, Helder Postiga, and Andres Guardado. On Friday, Valencia added Cruzeiro striker Vinicius Araujo to its attack alongside Vargas after signing the Brazilian to a reported five-year-deal. Valencia also rid itself of a pair of underperforming midfielders as Sergio Canales joined Real Sociedad in a reported 3.5 million euros ($4.7 million) deal. Banega, whose career at Valencia has been riddled with problems, joined Newells Old Boys on loan until the end of the current season. Valencia also signed Swiss defender Philippe Senderos from Fulham, while midfielder Ricardo Costas move to Turkish club Besiktas fell through, however. Rayo Vallecano signed Inter Milans Samule Longo, Granada landed Brazilian striker Welliton from Spartak Moscow, and Levante signed former Liverpool midfielder Mohamed Sissoko, a free agent, after Valladolid balked. Valladolid instead signed former Barcelona winger Jeffren Suarez from Sporting Lisbon. ' ' '