Amgen Irish Open: Rory McIlroy maintains two-shot lead at home, Matteo Manassero leads by half way | Golf

Rory McIlroy stayed inside two pictures of the half-way lead at house and stays in prime place to problem for a second Amgen Irish Open title.

The world’s third-ranked participant shot an eagle, a birdie and two after a first-round 68 on Friday morning and a 1-under 70 at Royal County Down. Bogey, coming into the weekend at 4 underneath.

McIlroy, the 2016 champion, did not reap the benefits of the surprisingly benign situations beginning on the again 9, bogeying the par-3 14th for a second straight day earlier than rolling in from 27 ft to seize the par-4 14th. to the fowl.

The spotlight of McIlroy’s spherical was on the primary par-5 gap, his tenth gap of the day, when he hit an eight-iron to fifteen ft and made an eagle, however on the par-4 fifth gap and A drop shot on the finish of his spherical on the par 4 left him tied for fourth, two strokes behind Matteo Manassero.

“I hoped to reap the benefits of the better situations this morning,” McIlroy admitted. “On the entrance 9, you will not see RCD. [Royal County Down] It is simpler to play.

“Then because the solar went down it obtained slightly colder and the wind began blowing in several instructions. However it was only a matter of creating certain I spent the weekend right here and giving myself an opportunity to get the primary two days after which flip my consideration to weekend.

Manassero shot a third-round 66 and eagled two of the par-5s to maneuver to the highest of the leaderboard, giving the Italian a one-shot benefit over in a single day leaders Todd Clements and Fellow Briton Laurie Canter.

Alejandro Del Rey joins McIlroy two pictures behind regardless of a quadruple bogey on the par-4 fifteenth, with Shane Lowry inside putting distance The lead was solely 5 pictures and he was anticipated to problem McIlroy for victory after taking pictures 69 within the second spherical.

“I knew I may give it a attempt,” mentioned Lowry, who received the title in 2009 as an newbie. “I believe [a Sunday showdown with McIlroy] It’s what the match desires and wishes.

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“Clearly myself, Rory is up there too. It could be nice if each of us may have a go on Sunday. You by no means know. It could be nice if we may go head-to-head on Sunday. We’ll see. .

“It is as much as me to get there. I am fairly certain he will get there anyway.”

Who will win the Amgen Irish Open? Watch dwell on Sky Sports activities all weekend lengthy. Stay protection will proceed on Sky Sports activities+ at midday on Saturday. Stream the Irish Open, Solheim Cup and more with NOW.