Missing the 36-hole cut the last two years at the Irish Open did not sit well with Rory McIlroy.
This year he’s doing something about it and on a rain-plagued Saturday at the K-Club, McIlroy took charge of the third round.
Looking for his first win of the season, he was two-under through 15 holes when darkness ended play and he’ll resume his third round Sunday morning with a three-shot lead over Danny Willett.
Birdies were hard to come by and McIlroy got one early at the par five fourth then another at the par five 10th. Two of his last three holes are par fives so he will have a chance to get further under par when play resumes.
McIlroy’s Foundation is the beneficiary of this event and he donates his winnings. He hopes it will be the first -place money.
Overnight co-leader Willett suffered three front-nine bogeys that derailed his round. He managed just one birdie. He was sitting at six-under, three back of McIlroy.
There were two rain delays and the field simply ran out of daylight.
