Tournament host Rory McIlroy said common sense prevailed when play was stopped on an already rain-interrupted third day of the Irish Open on Saturday.
McIlroy was three shots clear of his rivals, at nine-under and standing on the 16th tee at 8:20pm, when he became locked in talks with a European Tour official over the value of teeing up in the deteriorating light and continuing rain at the K Club.
The four-time major winner clearly did not want to play his tee shot and then have played called for the day after two prior lengthy stoppages.
Play had been suspended firstly for 2 hours, 18 minutes, but no sooner had the players ventured back onto the course and there was a further one-and-a-half hour delay ahead of a 19:55pm resumption.
McIlroy had moved to nine-under with a second birdie of his round at the 10th hole following the second stoppage.
Fortunately, common sense prevailed with McIlroy winning through as play was halted at 8:28pm,with the third round to continue at 7:30am yesterday.
“I was getting feedback that people around the 16th green were complaining how dark it was getting and then on the 17th tee what with all the trees surrounding the green,” McIlroy said. “As well, I had trouble reading my putt on the 15th green, so I didn’t know where to hit it and I said to my caddy: ‘I’ll just hit it straight,’ but they made the right call as it was just getting so dark and I just was not comfortable hitting that tee shot at 16, and also at the thought of having to come back in the morning to play my second shot.”
McIlroy has finally put himself in position to end a six-month winless drought with a bogey-free 15 holes. He was three shots clear of Masters champion Danny Willett, who was due restart his round on the 16th tee at six-under.
“Today was a day just to hang in there and not make too many mistakes, and that’s what I said on Friday that I wanted to do today,” McIlroy said. “I’ve had no bogeys in 15 holes and that is good, and while I left a few out there, I cannot complain having a three-shot lead and with three holes to play to try and get into double digit figures.”
Scotland’s Russell Knox had the clubhouse lead a he shot a two-under to finish on five-under.
Knox had cracked the face of his driver in a round of 75 on the first day and after borrowing a replacement, the current world No. 38 added a second-round 66 and is now in line for a top-three finish on his first visit to Ireland.
“I was pathetic the first day, brilliant on Friday, but not too great today,” Knox said.
Frenchman Sebastien Gros moved to a share of second place at six-under when he eagled the 16th.
However, the 26-year old, who won twice on last year’s Challenge Tour, then put three balls into the water at the par-four 17th, including two off the tee, in taking a quadruple-bogey eight.
The Frenchman ended with a round of 73 and a clubhouse share of 14th place.
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