Rory McIlroy admitted that winning a second Amgen Irish Open title just one hour from his hometown would put some gloss on a disappointing summer and heal some of the wounds from the US Open and Olympics.
McIlroy will take a one shot lead into the final round in Royal County Down and after a bruising summer where he lost the US Open to Bryson DeChambeau and saw his Olympic medal hopes end in a watery grave in Paris at the crucial moment, he has revelled in home comforts this week and winning on Sunday would be the next best thing.
“It would be great. I talked about it at the start of the week. You know, after the sort of year that I’ve had and the close misses, it wouldn’t make up for all of it, but it would go a long way in putting a nice shine on 2024,” McIlroy reflected after a third round of 69.
“I can’t get that far ahead of myself. I need to go out and play another very solid round tomorrow to try to get the job done. But I’m pleased with the first three days.”
Gusts of up to 50km/h greeted the afternoon starters in Newcastle and McIlroy teed off looking to answer the questions that had been raised about his ability to hang tough after a disastrous Open Championship in similarly brutal conditions in Troon.
After admitting defeat in the wind at Augusta and at Troon, McIlroy looked more comfortable in Royal County Down, hitting plenty of fairways off the tee and when he did veer off course he was rarely in trouble.
It was a performance that exuded control and patience for seventeen holes on Saturday and despite making a hash of the 18th costing him a bogey, he was pleased to show that he can play in tough conditions.
“I think this golf course just sort of suits my eye a little bit better and I know where the misses are and I know I can manage myself, I feel like I can manage myself around here better than at Troon just because I don’t know the place as well and some of the shots maybe didn’t really fit my I’ve as well as they do here.
“Yeah, that’s really it. I don’t believe like I’m swinging it any better. Just one of those weeks where I’m managing the misses a bit better.
“I don’t mind the wind. I’ve proven that I can play in the wind and win in the wind in Scotland last year and a few other places. But when it’s like this and the rain starts is when it becomes somewhat less enjoyable. If it stays dry like this, I’m happy.”
McIlroy looked like a player who just needed the season to end throughout the FedEx Cup Playoffs but a return to Royal County Down has proved to be the perfect tonic for what could be a happy ending on the DP World Tour. The 35-year-old has felt the love and he has paid back the support in spades to set up what could be a famous home win.
“Yeah, it’s a pleasure to play in front of everyone from home and getting cheered on on every hole. It is, it’s really nice and hopefully I can keep giving them something to cheer about tomorrow.
“Yeah, very pleased with how I played today and I’m going to need to play like that again tomorrow to try to finish it up.”
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