Amgen Irish Open - Day three digest

Sunday, September 15, 2024

Everything you need to know from day three at Royal County Down.

Rory McIlroy took the lead on home soil, Robert MacIntyre stayed patient and the wind wreaked havoc on day three of the 2024 Amgen Irish Open.

Here is everything you need to know from Saturday at Royal County Down.

McIlroy and Manassero set for final-round showdown

McIlroy put himself on course for victory on home soil as he takes a one-shot lead into the final round. The World Number Three produced a two-under-par 69 in more testing conditions to edge one ahead of halfway leader Matteo Manassero on six under par. “I definitely would have taken the score before I went out today,” McIlroy said. “Got off to the perfect start making a three on one and then it was just a matter of trying to par as many holes as possible. If you picked up a birdie here and there it was a bonus but I think to shoot in the 60s today in those conditions was a really good effort and it puts me in a great position going into tomorrow.”

Sunday's final group 🤝#AmgenIrishOpen pic.twitter.com/wMRkCy2ox0
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) September 14, 2024

MacIntyre benefits from patient approach

MacIntyre was rewarded for his patience after a third-round 69 propelled him into contention. Only four players broke 70 on Moving Day at Royal County Down and nobody went lower than MacIntyre, who at three under par heads into Sunday's final round three behind McIlroy. “I thought it was brilliant from start to finish there,” he said. “I really stayed as patient as I could, even on 18 there. It was absolutely brutal. Even downwind, you think you're going to get a bit of respite but it's so hard to control the golf ball.”

Wind wreaks havoc

Royal County Down was playing close to its toughest as the wind got up, with only four players breaking 70 and none of them bettering 69. But it wasn't just scorecards that were at risk from the blustery conditions...