The light and shade of the imposing Slieve Donard has inspired many an artist. At this Amgen Irish Open – with the Mourne Mountains providing a stunning backdrop – Rory McIlroy was among those who provided brushstrokes of his own on the canvas of the famed Royal County Down links, as the world number three sure-footedly moved into contention.
McIlroy’s work was no oil painting, yet his performance in navigating a way up the leaderboard, to trail midway leader, Matteo Manassero of Italy, by two strokes, created its own aesthetic thrall for those who traipsed the sand hills. Here was a man at home on the seaside links, letting his clubs paint the picture.
The highlight of McIlroy’s round of 70 for 138 was an eagle on the first, his 10th of the round, where he hit driver followed by an 8-iron approach to 15 feet. “I wish every hole was that easy,” he later quipped.
Indeed, the perfect storm threatened to materialise for the weekend’s business part of the $6 million tournament on the DP World Tour, as Shane Lowry – who’d confessed to tiredness earlier in the week after a busy schedule of late in his most successful season on the PGA Tour – looked invigorated as he also moved to the fringes of contention to lurk with intent.
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The two headline acts right in the mix. What more could you ask for? Not much more, if we’re honest; for, in truth, having both McIlroy and Lowry in the palette of potential winners – each looking to kick-start their Ryder Cup qualifying as well as chasing a prized title – will make the weekend all the more interesting.
“I know I can go and give it a run,” said Lowry, adding: “I think it’s what the tournament wants and needs. Obviously myself, and Rory is up there. It would be great if the two of us could give it a run on Sunday. You never know. It would be nice to go toe-to-toe. We’ll see. It’s up to me to get myself there. I’m pretty sure he’ll get there, anyway.”
Of the 11 Irish players who started, five of them – McIlroy (-4), Lowry (-1), amateur Seán Keeling (level), Séamus Power (+1) and Tom McKibbin (+1) – survived the cut, with Manassero leading the way on six-under-par 136. The cut fell on two-over-par 144.
McIlroy, again, was the centre of attention. This is his domain. And unlike 2015 when he hosted the tournament and missed the cut, there was a freshness about his demeanour and play in spite of this being his 22nd event of a hectic season (that, so far, has produced three wins – in the Dubai Desert Classic, the Zurich Classic in tandem with Lowry, and the Wells Fargo Championship.)
Here, he is seeking – as is Lowry – to become only the second Irish player to win the Irish Open more than once. Harry Bradshaw achieved that feat in 1949, having won previously in 1947. McIlroy’s win came in 2016, while Lowry’s was achieved as an amateur in 2009.
McIlroy’s decision to stay in the family home outside Holywood in north Down, making the near hour-long commute, would appear to have been a master stroke. It has enabled him to focus on the task at hand without too many distractions. “It’s much better than nine years ago when I was watching the third round on TV. I’m happy to be here for the weekend and happy to give myself a chance,” he admitted.
For sure, those ahead of him, Manassero in pole position (after a 66 for 136), but also the English duo Laurie Canter and Todd Clements (in tied-second on 137), will likely look over their shoulders to McIlroy headed into the weekend’s final 36 holes. If they don’t see him, they’ll likely hear the roars of the galleries.
“It’s great to get a couple of good solid rounds under my belt and I’m excited to be here for the weekend and get another couple of rounds here. It’s not just a bonus that I’m in contention but I just want to go out and try to play with the same attitude and the same patience and that’s what this course demands. If I can do that over the weekend, hopefully I’ll have a good shot [at winning],” said McIlroy.
He added: “It’s just a matter of making sure I was here for the weekend and to give myself a chance. So, sort of job done for the first two days and now turn my attention to the weekend. That’s where it will sort of tighten up, and depending on the conditions, I think the course will only get tougher from here. I’m looking forward to the challenge.”
Third-round tee-times
07:25 Jones, Ko
07:35 Donald, Jarvis
07:45 Waring, Green
07:55 Knappe, Paratore
08:05 Law, Catlin
08:15 Kjeldsen, Rai
08:25 Power, Olesen
08:40 Hoshino, Scrivener
08:50 Stone, Luiten
09:00 Van Driel, Pavan
09:10 Elvira, McKibbin
09:20 Enefer, Guerrier
09:30 Wu, Baldwin
09:40 Wilson, Kieffer
09:55 Dean, A Fitzpatrick
10:05 Keeling (am), Otaegui
10:15 Tarrio, Wiesberger
10:25 Rozner, Lawrence
10:35 Forrest, Saddier
10:45 Morrison, Penge
10:55 Schott, Mansell
11:10 Aiken, Walker
11:20 Smith, Välimäki
11:30 De Bruyn, MacIntyre
11:40 Lowry, Armitage
11:50 Lacroix, Prinsloo
12:00 Cockerill, Sharma
12:10 Celli, Norgaard
12:25 Dantorp, Van Rooyen
12:35 Syme, R Højgaard
12:45 Brown, Hill
12:55 Ferguson, Del Rey
13:05 McIlroy, Clements
13:15 Canter, Manassero.
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