Rory McIlroy is the leader going into the final round of the Irish Open this weekend but even he has found things a touch hard.
Royal County Down is known as one of the toughest courses out there and with the Irish wind howling and rain coming down, it was a hard ask on day three.
Luckily for McIlroy, he was able to put together some of his most measured golf of 2024 to get under par and go into the lead on six-under.
McIlroy had admitted yesterday he was happy to be over in Ireland and out of the USA for a bit and in his third round, it showed, as he produced some fine stuff.
But while McIlroy tops the leaderboard, the Northern Ireland star was quick to admit that things didn’t come easy for him in round three.
Rory McIlroy shares what was so difficult about round three of the Irish Open
Speaking to the media after his third round of two-under saw him take the lead going into Sunday, McIlroy was asked just what was so hard about the course.
And commenting on the conditions, mixed with bunkers and pin positions, McIlroy admitted it was a hard round.
“Today was hard because there’s so many bunkers in your landing area off the tee. If you do hit a good tee shot away, the second shots, especially where that pin was in the back right today, that’s probably the toughest hole location on the hole,” McIlroy said.
“I just think everything sort of conspired for it to play as tough as it could play today.”
McIlroy is looking to finish his 2024 on a big high after some huge ups and downs on the PGA Tour this season.
The 35-year-old has once again failed to add to his major haul and going into 2025, knows the pressure will be on again.
A win at County Down, then, will go down nicely as he looks to go into the new year with all guns blazing.
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