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 didn’t 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 via 54 holes on the Amgen Irish Open.
“I positively would have taken the rating earlier than I went out at present,” McIlroy mentioned.
“Bought 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 potential, 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, benefiting from the wind at his again. He’s 5-under on this gap for the week, a giant purpose why he has the lead.
His spherical then steadied from there, primarily because of how difficult this golf course is. It’s troublesome even with no 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 minimize posted under-par scores on Saturday, which explains that actuality. No person shot decrease than a 2-under 69. Solely 12 gamers are below par for the championship via 54 holes.
McIlroy’s enjoying associate Todd Clements, who held the day one lead after a terrific 66, a spherical he known as “one of the 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 feel to shoot within the 60s at present in these circumstances, yeah, clearly a extremely good effort,” McIlroy added.
“Circumstances had been very, very troublesome. I believed I did properly… 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 best way. 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 will be wonderful. I’m excited to present myself an opportunity,” McIlroy mentioned.
“The final couple of instances I’ve performed in Northern Eire, it hasn’t actually panned out the best way 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 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 workers author for SB Nation’s Enjoying By means of. Be sure you try @_PlayingThrough for extra golf protection. You may observe him on Twitter @jack_milko as properly.