McIlroy surges into Irish Open contention with 66

Irish Open leaderboard for the second-round

-12 J Lagergren (Swe), -11 A Saddier (Fra), -7 R McIlroy (NI), A Garcia-Heredia (Spa), D Hillier (NZ), T Olesen (Den)

Selected others: –6 T Hatton (Eng), -5 R Cabrera-Bello (Spa), T McKibbin (NI), -4 S Lowry (Ire), -2 A Maguire (Ire), E P Reed (US), + 2 S Power (Ire), + 4 L Donald (Eng), + 5 P Harrington (Ire), + 7 B Koepka (US)

At the halfway point of the Irish Open at the K Club, Rory McIlroy shot a six-under-par 66 to stay in contention.

The world number two finished five shots clear of Sweden’s Joakim Lagergren in a tie for third after claiming his first victory since winning his first career Grand Slam at the Masters in April.

In a superb 62, Lagergren led France’s Adrien Saddier by one shot, posting nine birdies, an eagle, and a bogey.

McIlroy, who won his first Irish Open title at County Kildare in 2016, said, “I’m really pleased with the day’s work,” which keeps me in touch with the winner heading into the weekend.

McIlroy started well on Friday, picking up two shots in his first four holes, having been irked by a slow play warning during an up-and-down 71 on Thursday.

However, his patience was tested when, during an eight-par run, he let birdie chances slip away.

However, England’s Tyrrell Hatton was a shot back after birdies the 13, 14, 17, and 18 while Thorbjorn Olesen, Alfredo Garcia-Heredia, and Daniel Hillier were all seven under.

The 36-year-old made a stunning approach to the par-five 18th where he could have taken a 10-foot eagle putt that would have brought him closer to the lead.

McIlroy, who will compete in the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth next week before the Ryder Cup in New York at the end of the month, continued, “I got it going. I hit some good shots coming in.”

McIlroy’s enthusiastic followers were followed by a large crowd, but Lagergren had the honor.

The 33-year-old, who started on the 10th, completed his round with a hat-trick of birdies. He won his only DP World Tour title in 2018.

On his back nine, Lagergren recorded three more birdies after par five on the 16th and 18th and reeled in four more in six holes.

He finished his round with another birdie to take the 36-hole lead after his card was blemished by a bogey at the par-three eighth.

The world number 194 remarked, “I just played really well out there.”

I holed a lot of putts today because my putter was obviously extremely hot. I had a good time yesterday, but I wasn’t really having my A-game that day.

Shane Lowry struggled to stay in contention despite stunning holing out for an eagle two on the 13th after a promising three-under 69 on Thursday.

The 2019 Open champion, who also carded three birdies and four bogeys, finished eight shots clear of the lead, in particular.

Tom McKibbin, who won the Irish Open as a novice in 2009, is one shot ahead of Lowry, who made five birdies and a bogey in a 68 to move into the top 20.

After an awful round of 80, Brooks Koepka, a five-time major winner and his first competition entry, missed the cut.

The weekend was also a failure for Ireland’s three-time major champion Padraig Harrington (74) and Ryder Cup champion Luke Donald (71).