– The leader of the Irish Open after the third round is Adrien Saddier (-15), who signed a card of 68 strokes and will start Sunday with a one-stroke lead over Ángel Hidalgo (-14) and two over Alfredo García Heredia (-12). The Frenchman made more or less the same birdies today as on Thursday and Friday, relying on notable solidity from the tee and a very steady putter. However, Saddier added more bogeys today (3) than in the previous two rounds combined (2). It tends to be a bit tougher on the weekend…
– Be that as it may, even if the Frenchman wins tomorrow, it is very likely that over time he will remember practically nothing of this Saturday round of his, 6 September 2025. It will not be the same, however, for the two mentioned Spaniards, who have also secured an excellent opportunity to win tomorrow. It would be for the second time in the case of Hidalgo and for the first in the case of García Heredia.
It will not be the same, we said, in their case, simply because today both experienced and enjoyed a very special round of golf, one of those that truly remain etched in memory. We often resort to the cliché of unforgettable days, unforgettable rounds of golf, that unforgettable shot, and all the ‘unforgettables’ that are appropriate and fit the moment. But in reality, as experience later dictates, the harsh reality, over time, the matter was not unforgettable at all, as evidenced by the fact that the protagonist simply forgot it…
– However, it may not be the case this time. It is very likely, in fact, that the Andalusian will still recount in twenty years how it was to string together seven consecutive birdies playing the best golf of his life to date; to what extent he believed he had the course record (and of his life) in hand. There are many ways to make birdies, these guys find them. But there are not so many ways to string together so many outstanding quality shots one after another on a course, the K Club North Course, which is not exactly an easy opponent (although today, it is true, very good results were seen). Will there be better rounds? No one doubts it, much less if we are dealing with a magician like Hidalgo. But this has been the best of his life to date and will remain etched.
– Alfredo García Heredia, for his part, had never walked on a golf course with so many people around his match. That clear. The equation was unbeatable: today he was playing alongside Rory McIlroy (-11), the local hero, and they were also in one of the last matches, with the tournament and so many other things at stake; and not just any tournament, but the Irish Open, where the crowd of fans is commonplace since Thursday. The Asturian is certainly an experienced, veteran player, but the best of his career, the most exciting, the most glamorous, if you will, is happening now. It happened today, for example. Alfredo has never played a Major, but today he tasted that wonderful syrup…
– Faced with such a multitude of powerful circumstances (Rory, Ireland, etc.), one can feel overwhelmed or, perhaps, choose to consciously enjoy the moment. The Spaniard opted for the latter. And it showed on the course, almost with every swing, to the point of signing a 67, finishing with a spectacular eagle on the 18th and even surpassing the score of his legendary playing partner (68). The cliché is blown away: Alfredo will truly remember this day forever. That Saturday, 6 September 2025, Hidalgo and García Heredia were (have been) immensely happy. Surely other milestones in life will prove (or have already proved) more important, more significant. But not so many, not so many…
– Rafa Cabrera Bello (-10, round of 67) and Ángel Ayora (-8, round of 68) completed another magnificent choral day for the Spanish Armada, on par or even better than Thursday’s. The Canary Islander may not have been immensely happy today, but he surely went to the hotel fully satisfied. The eternal and efficient comeback in the Race to Dubai continues its course and could even be completed tomorrow.
– Tomorrow there will be no changes despite the expectation of heavy morning rain and wind, but without compromising the normal development of the day. They will go out in pairs and at almost identical times to today. Rory, who quietly also secured a great chance of victory, repeats tomorrow alongside Alfredo García Heredia, this time in the penultimate match, just ahead of the star pairing, Saddier and Hidalgo. On paper, another ‘unforgettable’ day…
