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 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 didn’t stand up and down from 47 yards wanting 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 via 54 holes on the Amgen Irish Open.
“I undoubtedly would have taken the rating earlier than I went out at the moment,” McIlroy stated.
“Acquired 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 should you 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 attributable to how difficult this golf course is. It’s tough even and not using a regular wind. However when the breeze begins to blow, Royal County Down turns into borderline unimaginable. 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 underneath par for the championship via 54 holes.
McIlroy’s enjoying companion Todd Clements, who held the day one lead after a terrific 66, a spherical he referred to as “the very best 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 at the moment in these situations, yeah, clearly a very good effort,” McIlroy added.
“Situations had been very, very tough. I believed I did effectively… General, it was one other very regular, stable day, and I’ve given myself a very good probability 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, because of a beautiful 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 probability to win a second Irish Open title, which might imply the world to him.
“It might be wonderful. I’m excited to offer 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 wished. So, to play effectively three days right here, be within the remaining group, and provides myself an opportunity [on Sunday; yeah, I’m excited concerning the alternative, and I can’t get too far forward of myself, however yeah, I’m excited to go on the market and provides it my all tomorrow.”
Jack Milko is a golf employees author for SB Nation’s Enjoying By. Make sure to try @_PlayingThrough for extra golf protection. You possibly can comply with him on Twitter @jack_milko as effectively.
