McILROY ROLLERCOASTER IS FAMILIAR

WELCOME to a K Club dog day afternoon for Rory and his followers, where, just as it looked as though his round would fizzle out, title-hopes soared with an eagle on the 16th.

However, almost immediately, the volume dropped as he posted a double-bogey on the 17th before recovering a little and finishing with birdie.

There is always entertainment in a McIlroy round!

As it was McIlroy, reigning Irish Open champion Adrian Meronk and Florida’s Billy Horschell had turned from the front to back nine on minus 3, minus 4 and minus 2 respectively and were looking to press ‘play’. But whatever about raising the new battle flag on the new nine, their collective score of 15 on this simplest of par-5’s (flat, 531m) would even have made Saturday/Sunday club better ball members weep.

All three were on the 11th green in regulation but, closest to the hole, Meronk was the only one with birdie.

Par threes are never fun when trying to push for scores and all three made the dancefloor at the 188m, 12th — albeit none of the three threatened to hole out for the keys to the shiny BMW on show.

Jose Maria Olazabal was the closest earlier in the day, visibly lipping out.

McIlroy is closest, though, and he took his chance from near five feet, moving to minus-four, dare his adoring fans hope the chase is on?

Silence

There followed deathly silence in the wake of his second shot to 14 as it dropped into a front bunker from where it needed a splendid shot to save par.

The 14th’s a long par 3 at 196m but Rory, in making the dancefloor, was a long way from the pin and a weak first putt came up five feet short...he nonetheless rolled it in.

The three-ball were still on minus 4, minus 5 and minus 2 firing into the 15th green and, given Jordan Smith and

Shubhankar Sharma were long since in the clubhouse on 13 under respectively, there was a need of some pullback. Meronk putts from a long way off the green and only makes four, while

McIlroy fails to land a 14-footer and Horschel also signs for a par four.

The 16th is a par five but with the green hidden in to the left, so much so it makes for laying up and going for accuracy.

And then the MAGIC happened!

Mcilroy hoists his third at the pin and watches it bounce, run a little and disappear into the hole for an eagle.

Coming off the 16th green Rory had cut the lead to six shots — game on! Only to set off down the 17th and fire a double-bogey — the last putt running nearly 270 degrees around the hole — before picking himself up and finishing with a birdie on the last!

No, Rory didn’t play well yesterday and those two shots on 17 are potentially a killer.

But, then, if he hits form today he must feel he can get within range. He is certainly in a better position than yesterday’s playing partners Meronk on minus five and Horschel on minus two.