The 18th hole at Royal County Down usually presents a closing birdie opportunity, a chance to remedy the challenging round you just faced. But with a 25-mile-per-hour wind racing down from the Mourne Mountains on Saturday, this closing par-5 played straight into the breeze, forcing players to hang on for dear life as they wrap up their day.
That’s what happened to Rory McIlroy, who bogied the 18th after hitting a quasi-shank. After going wayward off the tee, McIlroy could not find the fairway with his layup, as his second shot nestled down on a sidehill. His third shot went off the toe of his wedge, and he failed to get up and down from 47 yards short of the green, making a six. But the Ulsterman played well enough on Saturday to shoot a 2-under 69. He holds a one-shot advantage over Matteo Manassero through 54 holes at the Amgen Irish Open.
“I definitely would have taken the score before I went out today,” McIlroy said.
“Got off to the perfect start, making three on [the par-5 1st]. And then it was just a matter of trying to par as many holes as possible, and if you picked up a birdie here and there, it was a bonus.”
McIlroy made an eagle on Royal County Down’s opening hole for the second consecutive day, taking advantage of the wind at his back. He is 5-under on this hole for the week, a big reason why he has the lead.
His round then steadied from there, mainly due to how challenging this golf course is. It’s difficult even without a steady wind. But when the breeze begins to blow, Royal County Down becomes borderline impossible. Only eight of the 68 players who made the cut posted under-par scores on Saturday, which explains that reality. Nobody shot lower than a 2-under 69. Only 12 players are under par for the championship through 54 holes.
McIlroy’s playing partner Todd Clements, who held the day one lead after a terrific 66, a round he called “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 17 shots back of McIlroy.
“I think to shoot in the 60s today in those conditions, yeah, obviously a really good effort,” McIlroy added.
“Conditions were very, very difficult. I thought I did well… Overall, it was another very steady, solid day, and I’ve given myself a good chance tomorrow.”
After his eagle on the 1st, McIlroy made only two birdies the rest of the way. His first par-breaker came at the short par-3 7th, thanks to a gorgeous approach. He then made an otherworldly three on the par-4 13th after finding the native area off the tee. McIlroy drained a 32-footer to improve to 7-under for the championship. But that bogey on 18 dropped him back to 6-under.
Still, he has a terrific chance to win a second Irish Open title, which would mean the world to him.
“It would be amazing. I’m excited to give myself a chance,” McIlroy said.
“The last couple of times I’ve played in Northern Ireland, it hasn’t really panned out the way I wanted. So, to play well three days here, be in the final group, and give myself a chance [on Sunday; yeah, I’m excited about the opportunity, and I can’t get too far ahead of myself, but yeah, I’m excited to go out there and give it my all tomorrow.”
Jack Milko is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through. Be sure to check out @_PlayingThrough for more golf coverage. You can follow him on Twitter @jack_milko as well.
