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 green along 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 effectively sufficient on Saturday to shoot a 2-under 69. He holds a one-shot benefit over Matteo Manassero by way of 54 holes on the Amgen Irish Open.
“I positively would have taken the rating earlier than I went out right this moment,” McIlroy mentioned.
“Received off to the right 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, an enormous purpose why he has the lead.
His spherical then steadied from there, primarily as a result of how difficult this golf course is. It’s tough even with no regular wind. However when the breeze begins to blow, Royal County Down turns into borderline not possible. Solely eight of the 68 gamers who made the reduce posted under-par scores on Saturday, which explains that actuality. No person shot decrease than a 2-under 69. Solely 12 gamers are beneath par for the championship by way of 54 holes.
McIlroy’s enjoying accomplice Todd Clements, who held the day one lead after a terrific 66, a spherical he known as “the perfect of his life,” had a nightmarish Saturday. The Englishman shot a 14-over 85, dropping 62 spots down the leaderboard, and is now 15 photographs again of McIlroy.
“I believe to shoot within the 60s right this moment in these situations, yeah, clearly a very good effort,” McIlroy added.
“Situations had been very, very tough. I assumed I did effectively… Total, it was one other very regular, strong day, and I’ve given myself an excellent 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 quick par-3 seventh, due to a stunning method. 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 might be superb. I’m excited to provide myself an opportunity,” McIlroy mentioned.
“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 effectively three days right here, be within the ultimate 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.
