Rory McIlroy is in pole place to safe his second Irish Open title after posting a two-under-par 69 on day three at Royal County Down.
The Northern Irishman, who hails from close by Holywood, leads by one on six beneath par with Matteo Manassero one stroke behind after carding a one over 72 in blustery situations on the well-known hyperlinks.
McIlroy was certainly one of solely 4 gamers to interrupt 70, with none of them managing to higher his effort, and the four-time Main winner made his intentions clear from the off with a formidable eagle on the par 5 first after a wonderful method from the suitable tough to 5 toes.
He bogeyed the fifth for the third day in succession however then returned to purple numbers with one other elegant method to the quick par three seventh.
The 35-year-old threatened to burst clear when he holed from 32 toes for birdie on the thirteenth however a second dropped shot of the day on the final, following a wayward drive, meant his benefit halved to 1 forward of Sunday’s remaining spherical.
McIlroy will tomorrow bid to win in his residence nation of Northern Eire for the primary time as an expert and seal the island of Eire’s nationwide open title for the second time, after capturing his first in 2016 at The Okay Membership.
PERFECT START
“I undoubtedly would have taken the rating earlier than I went out at the moment. I received off to the right begin making an eagle on one after which it was only a matter of making an attempt to par as many holes as potential and should you picked up a birdie right here and there, it was a bonus. I feel to shoot within the 60s at the moment in these situations was clearly a extremely good effort and that places me in a superb place going into tomorrow,” mentioned McIlroy.
Manassero blended 4 bogeys with three birdies however was unable to make the 52-footer on the final that might have despatched him into Sunday with a share of the lead.
Robert MacIntyre is seeking to make historical past of his personal on Sunday as he bids to turn out to be the primary participant to win each the Irish Open and the Scottish Open in the identical season, and he’ll go into day 4 simply three off the lead in a tie for third. The 2-time PGA Tour winner is joined on three beneath par by Rasmus Højgaard, Jordan Smith and Erik van Rooyen.
They’re one shot away from one other quartet, with Laurie Canter, Aaron Cockerill, Calum Hill and Adrian Otaegui on two beneath, one stroke forward of Daniel Brown and Filippo Celli, who’re the one different gamers beneath par.
