McIlroy stays patient at testing Royal County Down

Rory McIlroy is poised to make a significant impact over the weekend at the Amgen Irish Open, held at Royal County Down. The Holywood golfer, who has been a fixture in the tournament’s spotlight, added a second-round 70 to his opening 68, putting him at four-under-par overall. This places him just two strokes behind the leader, Matteo Manassero.

 

McIlroy’s round began with the back nine, where he had a steady performance marked by a solitary birdie and two bogeys. The highlight of his day came early in his round when he made a remarkable eagle putt on the first hole, which was his 10th of the day. Despite this moment of brilliance, McIlroy noted that the conditions were less favorable in the latter part of the day.

 

Reflecting on his round, McIlroy expressed some disappointment with the conditions. “I would have liked to have taken advantage of the easier conditions this morning,” he said. He described how the weather changed as the sun went down, leading to cooler temperatures and shifting winds that caught him off guard, particularly on certain holes like the fourth and the stretch from five through nine. Nevertheless, McIlroy is pleased with his performance over the first two days and is focused on the weekend ahead. “It’s much better than nine years ago when I was watching the third round on TV. Happy to be here for the weekend and happy to give myself a chance.”

 

Overnight leader Matteo Manassero continues to hold the top spot with a score of six-under-par. Manassero’s impressive second round featured two eagles, including one on the par-5 12th hole. His hot start on Friday, with early birdies following an eagle at the first hole, helped him maintain his lead despite a bogey at the fourth. The Italian golfer, who experienced a notable decline in form after a successful early 2010s career, demonstrated his resilience by recording a 66 on Friday, which was enough to keep him one stroke ahead of the competition.

English golfers Laurie Canter and Todd Clements are tied for second place, both sitting at five-under-par. Canter’s round was marked by a strong comeback after an initial bogey on the 10th hole, ultimately finding five birdies to finish the day in a promising position. Clements, who had a stellar round of 66 on Thursday, faced a more challenging day with two bogeys and only two birdies, resulting in an even-par round for Friday.

Spaniard Alejandro Del Rey briefly enjoyed a three-stroke lead during his second round but fell back to four-under-par after a quadruple-bogey on the 15th hole. This error dropped him into a tie for fourth place.

Shane Lowry made a move up the leaderboard with a second-round 69, bringing him under par for the tournament with an overall score of 141. Lowry, who won the title as an amateur in 2009, acknowledged the challenge of the course despite its somewhat easier morning conditions. “I feel like I’m back in the tournament,” he said after his round. Lowry is hopeful of a strong performance over the weekend, with an eye on potentially facing McIlroy in a compelling final round. “It would be great if the two of us could give it a run on Sunday.”

Irish players Seamus Power and Tom McKibbin both managed to secure their spots for the weekend with rounds of 69 on Friday. Power, despite enduring two double-bogeys, registered six birdies to finish at one-over-par. McKibbin, who played alongside McIlroy, also made sure of his weekend participation with a round featuring three birdies, including one on his final hole.

Not all the Irish contingent fared well, however. Padraig Harrington, the 2007 champion, will not be advancing past the cut after a second-round 74 left him on five-over-par overall. Simon Thornton, who had shared the lead briefly on Thursday, missed the cut with a total of four-over-par, despite finishing strong with two late birdies. The amateur Max Kennedy also missed the cut, finishing at five-over-par after a second-round 75.

Others who did not make it past the cut included Conor Purcell (72, 75), Gary Hurley (74, 75), and Mark Power (75, 77). However, a standout performance came from amateur Seán Keeling, who secured his place for the weekend with a resilient 72, adding to his opening 70 to stand at level-par overall.

As the tournament progresses into the weekend, the stage is set for an exciting conclusion with a competitive field, including McIlroy, poised to challenge for the title.