Rory McIlroy was credited with saving the Irish Open back in 2015. Ten years on and he is carrying the tournament on his back again after a late surge moved him to within five shots of the lead.
McIlroy shares third place on seven-under after a bogey-free 66 that included four birdies in his last six holes and he would love to hunt down Sweden’s Joakim Lagergren who has a sensational record in Ireland himself.
“I’m unbelievably excited for the opportunity,” said the 2016 Irish Open winner, also at the K Club. “I had a great chance to win last year at RCD – I wasn’t quite able to do it. So if I can put myself in contention again, going into Sunday, and give myself another opportunity to win my national open, that would be amazing.
Once again, McIlroy made a quick start with birdies at the first and fourth but it took a couple of hours for the Grand Slam champion to really give the heaving galleries something to cheer about.
Shane Lowry holed out from 89 yards for an eagle on 13 but it seemed like McIlroy was the one who got the bounce in the group behind as he rallied with birdies on 13, 14, a crucial par save on 16 and a birdie on 17 before almost making an albatross on the 18th although his eagle effort slid by.
“Yeah, it was probably the best round I’ve played from a ball striking perspective and just sort of putting it all together since The Open, probably since the Saturday of the Open, not that I’ve played that many rounds since then,” added McIlroy.
“But yeah, I played well today. I struck the ball well, I drove the ball very well and because of that I gave myself a lot of chances.
“But yeah, all aspects of the game feel pretty under control. I struggle a little bit coming back to these soft poa greens. They’re hard to read, they’re very subtle.
“You hit good putts that miss and sometimes you have bad putts that go in. It’s just the sort of nature of these sorts of greens, but overall it was a very good day.”
The crowds were 7-8 rows deep following the five-time major time and he was delighted to give them something to cheer about over the last few holes.
“Yeah, it’s absolutely amazing. Just the support, the atmosphere. Yeah, even what I did yesterday, that little Q&A in the fan village with the major trophies and the green jacket, just reflecting on this week and where I find myself. “
At the halfway point at the Palmer North Course, four of the eleven Irish that teed it up this week have survived.
Tom McKibbin is six shots off the pace after he ground out a 68 for a five-under total to share 16th place despite another struggling day off the tee.
Meanwhile, Lowry was unable to build on his eagle on 13, handing both shots back with bogeys on 14 and 15. The Offaly man also failed to birdie the par-5 16th and saw a nine foot eagle putt go begging.
Despite all that he was pleased with how he rallied after a slow start that saw him two-over through four holes before birdies on 9 and 11 got him ticking in the right direction again.
“Rollercoaster. Yeah, the whole day felt like a bit of a rollercoaster to be honest,” he smiled. “It’s just one of those days I feel like I hit the ball really well off the tee. Then it was just weird, I don’t know, my iron play was a little poor then I was a little sloppy when I missed a green. Got off to a shocking start, missed a couple of greens and then you are fighting.
“I’m proud of the way I battled back. The last thing you want to do is be one-under for the tournament playing 16, 17 and 18 with the trouble awaiting. I did very well to get my round back together but it’s kind of a what could have been round. That’s golf, live to fight another day.”
Laytown & Bettystown professional Alex Maguire is on course for a healthy pay day which woud see him earn more this week than he has in his short career to date.
Maguire produced a heart stopping finale to his second round to make the cut by a couple of shots on two-under after a 72.
Robert Moran, Seamus Power and Mark Power all missed the cut on two-over while Padraig Harrington and Max Kennedy were plus five with Conor Purcell and 18-year-old amateur John Doyle on eight-over.
At the top, Lagergren is searching for a third career win in Ireland having captured the ISPS Handa Invitational in Galgorm Castle and last year’s Irish Challenge at the K Club South course. A win this weekend would see him clinch the K Club double.
He leads by one from Adrien Saddier on twelve-under after a 62 but big names, including McIlroy, lie in wait with Thorbjorn Olesen and Tyrrell Hatton at seven and six-under respectively.
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