Rory backs Irish Open reform club

NO-ONE can accuse Rory McIlroy of sitting on the sidelines when it comes to the contentious subject of men-only golf clubs. A day after imploring the members at Muirfield ‘to see sense and realise it’s 2016’, the charismatic Northern Irishman revealed he is putting pressure on men-only Portmarnock in Dublin to change their membership policies so he can take the Irish Open back to the revered links for the first time since 2003. The 27-year-old, the tournament host, spoke yesterday after shooting a second-round 70 in this year’s edition at the K Club to set up the prospect of an enthralling shootout over the weekend against Masters champion Danny Willett, who carded a 71. McIlroy shot 70 to lie just a stroke behind Englishman Willett and his fellow pacemaker Marc Warren from Scotland, who finished with a marvellous 66. The Irish Open receives government money from Failte Ireland — Ireland’s tourist board — so Portmarnock lost the right to host it when it refused to budge on its men-only stance. Similarly, Muirfield lost the right to host The Open on Thursday after a resolution to admit women members failed to get the necessary two-thirds majority. But McIlroy (below) believes there are signs of a change of heart at the Irish club. ‘Portmarnock is one of the best venues for the Irish Open but the men-only issue is holding them back as well,’ he said. ‘We’ve had conversations about it and they are in the process of maybe taking the first steps to changing that rule. I’m going to put as much pressure as I can on them and not just because I’d love to see the Irish Open there. It is 2016, and these things have to change.’ McIlroy’s mood had been helped by sinking a long birdie putt on his final hole to defuse the frustration building as opportunities went begging. ‘In all the circumstances a 70 is not a bad score and that birdie at the last feels huge,’ he said. ‘It’s given me momentum for the weekend.’ Putting his tournament hat back on, McIlroy surveyed the leaderboard with pride. ‘I don’t think there’s anyone happier than me to see Danny up there as the Masters champion alongside Marc with myself tucked in behind,’ he said. ‘It’s shaping up very nicely and I think the crowds are going to enjoy the final two rounds.’ Willett threatened to establish a handy advantage when he birdied two successive holes on his back nine to go three clear but finished with a dropped shot and three pars. ‘It was a bit scrappy in places but I can’t complain with the position that I find myself in,’ said the 28-year-old from Sheffield. Willett is on record as saying he considers McIlroy the best golfer in the world but played down the prospect of a duel. ‘It will be good whoever I am up against,’ he said. ‘Don’t underestimate Marc. He is a fantastic player.’ The 35-year-old from Rutherglen has not been showing much of his undoubted gifts this season, with six missed halfway cuts in nine starts on the European Tour. That changed with a fabulous six-under-par round, the highlight being a chip-in for a birdie two on his penultimate hole. ‘I’ve been seeing signs of a return to form and today everything was very solid,’ said Warren. ‘Given it was blustery, I’m very pleased with my score.’ The leading trio all benefitted from being in the more favourable half of the draw when it came to the weather. Credit, therefore, to Englishman Matthew Southgate for completing two rounds at just three off the pace from the more difficult side. The 27-year-old from Essex lies fourth after a second-round 69.

DEREK LAWRENSON Golf Correspondent reports from the K Club