JUST hours after crystal clear skies above his Holywood home had been illuminated in stunning greens and purples, Rory McIlroy ensured the brightest of golf’s Northern lights was still shining at the Irish Open.
Already three-under-par following a solid first day, red was the only colour on McIlroy’s mind when his alarm sounded at 3.30am on Friday morning, mind focusing as he raced up the road for an 8am tee off at Royal County Down.
He needs no reminding but, by this stage of proceedings at the 2015 Irish Open on the same course, his tournament was already over courtesy of a disastrous eight-over opening round. After the aurora, would it be awww Rory once more?
Even though it was Friday the 13th, there would be no repeat of that Newcastle nightmare - the 35-year-old finishing the day on four-under, a late collapse from early leader Alejandro del Rey after a quadruple bogey at the 15th blowing the field wide open heading into the weekend.
“Yeah,” smiled McIlroy, “it’s much better than nine years ago when I was watching the third round on TV.
“I’m happy to be here for the weekend and happy to give myself a chance.”
Yet there was still a tinge of frustration.
Conditions for those out early on Friday could hardly have been any better, at least in comparison to earlier in the week, with worse anticipated for the next two days’ play.
McIlroy drew the biggest roar of the day with an eagle on the par-five first at the turn, but was steady rather than spectacular to retain his spot among the chasing pack at the top of the leaderboard.
“I’m probably a little disappointed with the first nine holes… they were played in benign conditions and I didn’t feel like I took advantage of those conditions.
“And to only play the back nine in even par when I felt like I should have played it two or three under, but then I played okay coming in. The conditions got a little bit more difficult.
“It’s great to get a couple of good solid rounds under my belt, I’m excited to be here for the weekend and get another couple of rounds here. It’s not just a bonus that I’m in contention, I just want to go out and try to play with the same attitude and the same patience and that’s what this course demands.
“If I can do that over the weekend, hopefully I’ll have a good shot.”
McIlroy does not provide the sole Irish interest either heading into the weekend.
Playing partner Tom McKibbin found form to finish strongly on the back nine, two birdies helping the 21-year-old make the cut with one-over-par, while Shane Lowry sits on one-under.
It would have been even better for the 2019 Open champion, but a poor missed putt at the last hole saw him finish up with a bogey – yet, with the weather due to take a turn, Lowry will like his chances of forcing himself closer to contention.
“It’s always good for a national Open for the home guys to be playing well,” said McIlroy.
“I saw Shane shot a couple under today, Tom played great too, got himself in for the weekend – he’s not too far out of it either.
“It’s always good to have that home interest and it will get the crowd going over the weekend.”
