Rory digs deep but salvage job proves too big for home hero
The next time Rory McIlroy makes a beeline towards the stars with invitations to attend the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open, one or two of them might start running.
how about Ryder Cup hero Victor Dubuisson, who had one seven and two eights on his card in a horrific second round of 84? Or Sergio Garcia, who is supposed to be quite good at this Links golf l ark but who completed two rounds at Royal County Down in an aggregate total of 154 shots.
Then there was the American Jonathan Moore, who was so looking forward to returning to this special corner of the world since he holed the winning putt here for America against Britain and Ireland in the 2007 Walker Cup. how he must have wished he was playing match-play golf yesterday as he ran up a 13 — yes, a 13 — on, appropriately enough, the par-four 13th.
Needless to say, i t was the highest score on a single hole by any player on the european Tour this year.
And what of the host, who had his own problems on Thursday, when he opened with an 80? What would happen this time around, with the weather another stark contrast of warm sunshine punctuated by s howers of — unnerving violence?
Well, after three days of Rory the world- class fundraiser, as he successfully went about persuading wealthy people to part with their money at various functions — it is hoped £1.5million will be raised for the Rory Foundation, which is making a real difference in these parts to the lives of children suffering from cancer and their families — the crowd finally got a glimpse of Rory the world-class golfer.
At 2.51pm, glory be, he got a putt to drop at the eighth. It was his first birdie of the championship and the roar that went up... well, Opens have been won with less acclaim. A par at the ninth meant he had played the more stringent outward half in a commendable 34 shots.
having started the day in 150th place, McIlroy had progressed to 128th without hitting a shot. he was 106th after his first birdie and 93rd when he also got a four at the long 12th. A desperate quest to make the halfway cut is not normally where we want to see the world No 1 but this was proving a captivating contest to see if he could make it through to the weekend.
Two more birdies were needed and the last two holes offered opportunities. McIlroy, alas, stumbled before he got there, with an untidy double bogey at the 15th. he was back up to 106th — and out. he finished with a 71.
It was the third year in a row he has missed the cut in this event and the second tournament in as many weeks in the UK. Next stop: the US Open next month. he’ll probably win that one.
‘I thought level par was a pretty good score today but I left myself with too much to do,’ reflected McIlroy. ‘ I’m probably more disappointed for all the fans who showed up than myself and the fact I won’t be around at the weekend again.
‘I was trying as hard as I could but just couldn’t get a good run of holes going. Unfortunately I just left myself too much to do.
‘The support out there was phenomenal. I’m more disappointed f or them. I’m honestly looking forward to two weeks off before the US Open.’
Minutes later, McIlroy was in a c ar and heading home to holywood, but although his duties as tournament host prevented an onward journey to Florida, he refused to blame them for his performance.
‘It’s not as difficult as you might think. I’m definitely not using that as an excuse,’ he added. ‘If anything, it has fallen at a bad time as my fifth tournament in a row. In an ideal world, I would have come in here with a bit different preparation.’
Padraig harrington was frustrated not to be in a commanding position to win a second Irish Open title as McIlroy was heading for home.
The three-time major champion predicted on Wednesday that an Irish player would lift the trophy on Sunday and harrington briefly enjoyed a five- shot lead when, having started on the 10th, he followed six straight pars with birdies on the 16th and 17th and picked up another shot on the first.
however, he then played the remaining eight holes in five over par.
‘I’m pleased to be in contention but I would have preferred to be seven or eight under par and in a good position to move away from the field,’ said the 43-year-old.
‘I’m now in a position where I need to play well over the weekend and not have anything go against me. There will be a lot of people who just made the cut who will think they can win now that I’ve come back to the pack. It will be a tougher weekend and I won’t have the luxury of any more bad runs.’
Amidst all the struggles there was some remarkable golf played by the hardy. Young englishman Tyrell hatton shot an amazing 66 to be one of five players tied for the lead, alongside in-form fellow countryman Chris Wood, Scot Richie Ramsay, Dane Soren Kjeldsen and Austrian Bernd Wiesberger. One shot back is Luke Donald, who si t s alongside harrington on the leaderboard.