tive weeks, beginning with a triple-overtime win over Louhoma at

Paul McGinley reflects on a second day of tough conditions at Augusta National and highlights the importance of bouncing back from inevitable mistakes at the Masters. The most impressive thing for me about Rory McIlroys second round was his mental resilience. It was a war of attrition out there, and this years Masters is a very different test to 12 months ago.Last year turned into a shoot-out and we saw record scoring, birdies and eagles all over the place. The conditions were benign, and the course played softer than in previous years.But this week, the wind has got up and its gusting to 20mph, and the course is playing so much more difficult as a result because its much firmer and faster. Everybody is making bogeys, you cant get round Augusta without a couple of mistakes in these conditions. Rory McIlroy showed great mental resilience and birdied three of the last six holes So its a real test of resilience and your ability to bounce back from the bogeys and double-bogeys that every player in the field cannot avoid. Earlier in the week, I spoke about the importance of knowing when to attack and when to hold back. But when Augusta is playing this tough, finding that balance becomes even more vital as every mistake is accentuated.You can still attack 13 and 15 if you get a good drive away, and theres a few holes playing downwind. Players are going into the ninth with wedges, and 14, 17 and 18 are also playing reasonably short.But the first, fourth and fifth have been particularly brutal, and you can go through the whole course and find dangers. You have to accept you are not going to make many birdies, and the chances of making more bogeys than birdies are greater. McIlroy was able to bounce back from his double-bogey at the fourth Theres been a lot of talk about making courses longer because of how far the professionals are hitting it these days - putting a new tee in to lengthen the 13th here has been widely mentioned.But the biggest test for the pros is not length, it is getting to grips with firm greens and fairways. And when you add a swirling breeze like weve had here for two days, those three factors have combined to have a huge effect on the scoring. Thats why only seven players are under par after 36 holes.Rorys second round was all the more impressive considering the conditions and the overall scoring, and his 71 was the joint low round of the day and one of only four sub-par scores. The 13th at Augusta can still be attacked Arnold Palmer once said: The greatest gift you need mentally in this game is the ability to forget. Thats what Rory McIlroy did today. He was two over for his round after a bogey at 11, but he had the mental strength to bounce back with three birdies coming in.When Augusta is like this, you have to accept youre going to make bogeys and you need to go to the next tee with a clear head. Its a lot easier said than done, but having that ability is what separates the great players from the rest.With Rory playing with Jordan Spieth in the final group on Saturday were in for a great weekend, and we could see the course playing a little easier if the forecast is right. The wind is predicted to drop a little, and I would expect the set-up to be friendlier on Sunday in particular. They will probably soften the greens a little and choose pin positions that will yield more birdies and eagles, especially on the back nine. That will create atmosphere and the opportunity for someone to come out of the field and make a run.We should see some more aggressive golf this weekend, and you can catch all the action with myself, Ewen, Butch, Monty, Boxy and Rich Beem on Sky Sports. Also See: McIlroy: Best position in years Monty: Rory the favourite Adidas Shoes Online Store Uk . The Vancouver coach and an announced sellout crowd of 18,910 watched in dismay as the Canucks lost 7-4 to the New York Islanders on Monday night by squandering a 3-0 lead in the third period. Adidas Shoes Uk Sale . LeBron James and Chris Bosh didnt need any more. Williams scored 11 points in 10 minutes, Alan Anderson scored 17 points, and the Brooklyn Nets finished the exhibition season with a 108-87 win over the Miami Heat on Friday night. http://www.wholesaleadidasshoesuk.com/ . -- New England Revolution goalkeeper Matt Reis is retiring after a 16-year career to become the goalie coach for the Los Angeles Galaxy. Adidas Shoes Wholesale Uk . -- Running backs Darren McFadden and Rashad Jennings were back at practice for the Oakland Raiders on Wednesday despite being hampered by hamstring injuries. Cheap Adidas Shoes Wholesale .Y. - Nelson Mandela will be honoured by the New York Yankees with a plaque in Monument Park. MANHATTAN, Kan. -- Throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, an era Kansas State fans reverentially refer to as their decade of dominance, the Wildcats routinely competed for Big 12 titles thanks to their defense.They were tough. They were talented. They were stingy.They were a lot like this years bunch.Through the first three weeks of the season, the Wildcats (2-1) rank at or near the top of just about every defensive statistical category in major college football. They have allowed just seven points to their last two opponents -- though in fairness, Saturday nights game against Missouri State was called at halftime due to lightning -- and have held all three opponents to 300 yards or less.In the points-a-plenty Big 12, the Wildcats are a rarity.A lot of guys are hungry, explained Kansas State linebacker Elijah Lee, one of the veteran leaders of the defense. Were trying to race each other to the tackle and see who can get there. Just playing with that chip on us makes us a lot faster.Its hardly a surprise the Wildcats have a chip on their shoulder.Just last year, they allowed more than 30 points a game, tied with Texas for 90th in the Football Bowl Subdivision. They gave up 159.4 yards on the ground and 283.1 through the air.Injuries did not help: Top safety Dante Barnett missed almost the entire year , and several other key contributors were forced to watch big chunks of the season from the sideline.Theyre almost all back, and youngsters pressed into service have a year of experience now. And the results were better from the start, when Kansas State held high-powered Stanford in check in a Week 1 road game against Heisman Trophy candidate Christian McCaffery and Co.McCaffery managed 126 yards rushing, but he had to work for it. And the unbeaten Cardinal only had 167 yards passing and mustered nine points in the second half of their 26-13 victory.Florida Atlantic gained 216 yards against Kansas State two weeks ago, turning the ball over four times and converting 1 of 13 third downs in a 63-7 romp. And in the half played against Missouri State on Saturdayy night, the Bears completed three passes and gained 54 yards.ddddddddddddI do not look at the statistics, only when the season is over, Kansas State coach Bill Snyder said recently, but just based on the assessment and evaluation of where we are right now, I would say yes, we are an improved defensive football team from last year.Well, here are the statistics: Kansas State has allowed 537 yards through three games, best in major college football. They are first in yards passing at 106.7 per game, fourth in points allowed with 33, and tied for sixth with Boise State in yards rushing at 72.3 per game.But leave it to Snyder to put even the most glowing of marks in perspective.That would speak very negatively of us as coaches if we were not (better), he said, considering the fact we have a good deal of experience coming back as well. Ive said so many times, experience is a major factor, whether it is good experience or not, and some of it last year was not.Remember, that was a team that allowed at least 33 points four consecutive weeks, beginning with a triple-overtime win over Louisiana Tech. Its also a team that lost 55-0 to Oklahoma at home and surrendered a dizzying amount of offense in a 59-44 loss at Texas Tech.We have been doing a pretty good job at this point, Kansas State defensive end Jordan Willis said, but its a matter of my teammates and I keeping it up going forward. Once our attitude is set and we get ready to go, it will be tough to play against us.The Wildcats get their first real test since Stanford on Saturday, when they open Big 12 play at West Virginia. Mountaineers quarterback Skylar Howard has thrown for nearly 1,000 yards and six touchdowns while helping his team to a 3-0 start.Then again, perhaps the Wildcats will be the first real test of the season for him.We still have little things to iron out before we get in to league play, Lee said, and that is something we are going to take day-by-day this week. ' ' '