RORY NOT YET RIGHT AS RAIN LOWRY ALSO STRUGGLES
RORY MCILROY and reigning Open champ Shane Lowry admit they are still finding their legs again on European soil as they gear up for Royal St George’s. The homegrown stars failed to fire in yesterday’s Irish Open third round at Mount Juliet and are well off the pace set by Aussie Lucas Herbert, who on 15 under is a shot ahead of US hopeful Johannesveerman.
Mcilroy missed a close-range birdie putt on his first hole and had dropped three shots by the time he reached the fifth tee.
The Ulsterman carded a one-over-par 73. Lowry, the Claret Jug winner in Portrush in 2019, finished a shot worse off at the Kilkenny venue.
The event’s other big name, Tommy Fleetwood, had a better day and a 68 leaves him six shots off the lead.
Mcilroy, 32, claims it is taking time to adjust having spent so long playing in the US.
“It’s really different, it just takes you a while to get used to it,” said the former world
No.1. “Even though this is the golf we grew up on, Shane and I haven’t played a lot of this sort of style in a decade.
“It takes a week or two to get used to some of the lies around the greens, to how flat the greens are and not reading too much into it.
“I talked to Shane about that. Just trying to get my eye in again, I guess.”
Lowry (above) pointed to his double bogey on the third hole when his 8-iron approach found the water – instead of going with the 7-iron in the colder, damper conditions.
He said: “I got it going in the Irish Open last year after being in the States for so long.
“I got fooled with the conditions and the ball not going so far. I’m not going to make excuses. I’ve been playing golf in Ireland long enough. I should not be making mistakes like that.”
Mcilroy plays next week’s Scottish Open in a bid to further hone his game ahead of The Open. Lowry will play Irish links courses to prepare.
“Hopefully I’ll have a good day and shoot a good score,” said Mcilroy of today’s final round. “I’m looking forward to next week as well.”