The 18th gap at Royal County Down often presents a closing birdie alternative, an opportunity to treatment the difficult spherical you simply confronted. However with a 25-mile-per-hour wind racing down from the Mourne Mountains on Saturday, this closing par-5 performed straight into the breeze, forcing gamers to hold on for expensive life as they wrap up their day.
That’s what occurred to Rory McIlroy, who bogied the 18th after hitting a quasi-shank. After going wayward off the tee, McIlroy couldn’t discover the golf green together with his layup, as his second shot nestled down on a sidehill. His third shot went off the toe of his wedge, and he did not stand up and down from 47 yards in need of the inexperienced, making a six. However the Ulsterman performed properly sufficient on Saturday to shoot a 2-under 69. He holds a one-shot benefit over Matteo Manassero by means of 54 holes on the Amgen Irish Open.
“I positively would have taken the rating earlier than I went out at the moment,” McIlroy stated.
“Obtained off to the proper begin, making three on [the par-5 1st]. After which it was only a matter of making an attempt to par as many holes as attainable, and for those who picked up a birdie right here and there, it was a bonus.”
McIlroy made an eagle on Royal County Down’s opening gap for the second consecutive day, profiting from the wind at his again. He’s 5-under on this gap for the week, a giant cause why he has the lead.
His spherical then steadied from there, primarily as a consequence of how difficult this golf course is. It’s tough even with out a regular wind. However when the breeze begins to blow, Royal County Down turns into borderline inconceivable. Solely eight of the 68 gamers who made the lower posted under-par scores on Saturday, which explains that actuality. No one shot decrease than a 2-under 69. Solely 12 gamers are beneath par for the championship by means of 54 holes.
McIlroy’s taking part in accomplice Todd Clements, who held the day one lead after a terrific 66, a spherical he known as “the most effective of his life,” had a nightmarish Saturday. The Englishman shot a 14-over 85, dropping 62 spots down the leaderboard, and is now 15 pictures again of McIlroy.
“I feel to shoot within the 60s at the moment in these situations, yeah, clearly a very good effort,” McIlroy added.
“Circumstances have been very, very tough. I believed I did properly… General, it was one other very regular, strong day, and I’ve given myself likelihood tomorrow.”
After his eagle on the first, McIlroy made solely two birdies the remainder of the way in which. His first par-breaker got here on the brief par-3 seventh, due to a stunning strategy. He then made an otherworldly three on the par-4 thirteenth after discovering the native space off the tee. McIlroy drained a 32-footer to enhance to 7-under for the championship. However that bogey on 18 dropped him again to 6-under.
Nonetheless, he has a terrific likelihood to win a second Irish Open title, which might imply the world to him.
“It will be wonderful. I’m excited to provide myself an opportunity,” McIlroy stated.
“The final couple of instances I’ve performed in Northern Eire, it hasn’t actually panned out the way in which I needed. So, to play properly three days right here, be within the remaining group, and provides myself an opportunity [on Sunday; yeah, I’m excited about the opportunity, and I can’t get too far ahead of myself, but yeah, I’m excited to go out there and give it my all tomorrow.”
Jack Milko is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through. Be sure to check out @_PlayingThrough for more golf coverage. You can follow him on Twitter @jack_milko as well.
