McIlroy and Shane Lowry ere among the early players to tee off on Friday in ideal conditions at Royal County Down
surged into contention at a course he knows very well on Thursday, with Royal County Down located some 50 minutes away from where he grew up in Holywood.outright leader Todd Clements after a late hat-trick of birdies saw him record an opening three-under-par 68.
Having enjoyed a four shot advantage at one point, the Spaniard couldn't find his tee shot and had to play his provisional, then proceeded to make a mess of the hole and made quadruple bogey to fall back into the pack. "I felt that the course was there for the taking a little bit this morning. To only play the back nine in even par I was pretty disappointed with, but I played solid coming in, I felt like I left a couple of shots out there but I'm still there.
His approach just hangs on to the left edge of the green, leaving a long putt rather that a difficult up and down attempt. But he snatches a little at it and misses, and that will make be hard to take. Right now he is four shots off the lead at the halfway stage but still in it."I'm happy, I've sort of stuck with it and kept my wits about me because obviously there's a lot of trouble. I don't think I've played lights out but I've played smart, under par for here after 36 holes is good golf.Had he made his putt on his 16th hole, McIlroy would have found himself in the joint lead.
An errant tee-shot on 5 finds a steep fairway bunker and Rory has to come out sideways, leaving himself work to do on what is his 14th hole. Currently lying in joint second place with Laurie Canter, three shots behind the lead.Annoyed with himself for not making the most of a great drive on six - his 15th hole; his approach came up short of the green from 110 yards and his birdie putt left him with a four and half footer for par, which he sinks.
Shane Lowry Shane Lowry Rory Mcilroy Rory Mcilroy Rory Mcilroy Golf Golf Seamus Power Padraig Harrington Padraig Harrington
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