Rory McIlroy records remarkable bogey-free run in Irish Open and jokes ‘I feel like Scottie Scheffler’

Shane Lowry is upbeat despite letting contention slip

RORY McIlroy probably needs to get angry a lot earlier today if he is to have a chance of winning his second Irish Open.

The Holywood hotshot’s homecoming as golf’s newest Grand Slam winner has been frustrating.

His irritation at failing to recapture the form that earned him his Masters triumph in April has been there for all to see.

After a swearing outburst in the second round sparked a flurry of four birdies in his final six holes, the world No 2 managed to keep a lid on it until the 17th this time.

But watching his approach from 140 yards finish almost 50 feet shy of the flag saw him hurl a club at his bag.

Letting off steam worked yet again as McIlroy found the green in two on the par-five 18th. And a vital closing birdie gave him momentum for a title push today.

It completed a four-under-par 68, and remarkably, he has now played 37 holes without a bogey, despite not hitting top gear at the K Club.
The world No  2 quipped: “I feel like Scottie Scheffler!”

But the Masters champion needs to make more birdies, like Spaniard Angel Hidalgo, who made 12 of them in the 63 that sent him rocketing into contention. That birdie haul equalled the DP World Tour record.

Hidalgo said: “It felt like I was playing golf on the PlayStation. Everything went straight at the flags.”

McIlroy, 36, managed only four birdies and admitted to caddie Harry Diamond that he felt that was not enough.

He explained: “As I was walking off the 18th, I said to Harry this is probably the most frustrating four-under round I’ve played in a while.

“I had plenty of chances to go much lower. I feel like I should be at least a couple of shots better off.

“I know there’s a low score out there. I need to get off to a fast start, put pressure on the guys ahead and get into contention on the back nine.”

McIlroy will tee off four behind Adrien Saddier after the Frenchman’s 68 took him to 15 under par, a shot clear of Hidalgo.

HAPPY SADDIER

Saddier, who led after two rounds of last week’s European Masters before fading over the weekend, said: “There is still 18 holes to play, so a lot of things can happen. As I said yesterday, I crushed myself last weekend.

“I have a good chance. I was with my team on Monday and I’m focused on tomorrow and what I have to do and what I can control. We’ll see what happens.”

Shane Lowry’s challenge faltered further as he struggled on the greens to sign for a 70, sitting six under overall in tied-21st place.

The Clara man registered a couple of early birdies but never got a handle on the greens. Lowry refused to be downbeat, even though he knows he is probably out of contention.

The Ryder Cup wildcard said: “I missed a few putts. I just couldn’t get the ball in the hole on the greens.

“As a golfer, you’re trying to always see the glass as half-full. I feel like that’s some of the best golf I’ve played all year today. I’m very upbeat about tomorrow, next week, three weeks’ time. If I keep hitting the ball like that, I’ll be all right.

“There’s a low score in me tomorrow, but I’m out of the tournament. I’m too far back, there are too many people ahead. I was hoping to maybe shoot four or five under to give myself a sniff.”

Tom McKibbin lies three shots further back while Alex Maguire signed for a 73 to sit in 51st place on one under overall.