What Paul McGinley noticed was different about Rory McIlroy at the Irish Open, ‘just look’

Add as preferred source on Google

Rory McIlroy is in contention to win The Irish Open for the second time this week after firing a six-under par 66 on day two at The K Club.

McIlroy finished off his second round incredibly well on Friday at the Irish Open, with four birdies coming in his final six holes.

He’s now finely poised to make a charge on Saturday as he trails the leader – Joakim Lagergren – by five shots heading into the weekend.

McIlroy wasn’t happy at all at the Irish Open after day one, when it emerged that he had been put on the clock twice during his first round.

However, he was all smiles on Friday as he catapulted himself back into contention at his national open.

McIlroy has the full support of the Irish Open crowds at The K Club this week.

And he will be hoping that the fans cheering him on can help drive him to what would be a vital victory, with the Ryder Cup looming large on the horizon.

McIlroy seemed to be more focused than he has been in quite some time during his second round at The K Club on Friday.

And the 36-year-old’s fellow Irishman Paul McGinley noticed a big change in his attitude.

Paul McGinley spotted a big change in Rory McIlroy at the Irish Open

McGinley was speaking to Sky Sports in the UK about McIlroy’s second round 66 on Friday evening.

The five-time major winner has been somewhat distracted on the golf course since he won The Masters back in April, with his mind seemingly elsewhere.

However, that certainly wasn’t the case at the K Club in Straffan, Co. Kildare, on Friday afternoon.

“Rory looked focused today, he certainly did on the back nine,“ McGinley explained.

“What we saw today was him taking advantage of short irons and good putts.

“This is where he ignited (on the 12th hole). Watch this putt here, it didn’t go in and he was astonished about it, but there was something about Rory, I’ve watched him so many times throughout the years, I could tell the intensity, the concentration levels, the bit between his teeth went to another level.

“The energy he exudes, he’s got the bit between his teeth. I talk about the pointy elbows of Rory and that’s it, get out of my way.

“Just look at the intensity in his eyes, he doesn’t always have that. He can drop his intensity, he can drop his concentration levels but I could feel it, I could feel the energy even in the commentary box today.”

McIlroy undoubtedly approached his second round at the Irish Open with more intensity, and he will need to keep that up over the weekend if he is to win the tournament.

Rory McIlroy’s stats on day two of the Irish Open

McIlroy will be delighted with the current state of his all-round game.

Here are his stats from the second round of the Irish Open on Friday:

It’s clear to see from those stats that McIlroy’s game is in fine shape right now.

If the Masters champion can just sharpen up on his putting, he could be set for an extremely low round.

Another round in the mid-60s would see McIlroy head into Sunday with a real chance to win the Irish Open.