Making an eagle in a round of golf is not a common occurrence. Far from it. For example, in the DP World Tour, among those who have played more than 50 rounds of golf this year, the best average belongs to the Spaniard Iván Cantero. The Asturian signs 0.25 eagles per round, or in other words, makes an eagle every four rounds. If it is difficult to get one, you can quickly get an idea of how complicated it is to make two in the same round. It’s not twice as hard. It’s much more.
Matteo Manassero (-6), for example, sole leader of the Amgen Irish Open after 36 holes, had never made two eagles in the same round in his DP World Tour career until this year. Now, it seems that he has taken a liking to it and it is starting to look like an extraterrestrial affair. He started with the ‘hobby’ at the Jonsson Workwear Open, a tournament he won last March. In the second round he made two eagles on holes 11 and 17. First pick. Less than a month later, still in March, again. At the Hero Indian Open, second day, holes 8 and 17. Two eagles. Really?
Not content with this, it turns out that the Italian arrives today, Friday, of course second round, and signs another two eagles at the wonderful Royal County Down. On holes 1 and 12. Three times. Science fiction. The only difference is that today he made them in the afternoon and in the previous two cases he played in the morning shift. Remember that Matteo played his first tournament on the DP World Tour in 2009 and is playing number 265. Between 2009 and 2023 he never made two eagles in the same round on the DP World Tour. This year he has three. All in the same round. How do you eat this?
Obviously, the two eagles he has made today have been crucial to catapult him in the standings. By the way, neither of them came as a result of a coincidence, from a chip that goes in from outside or a kilometre-long putt that occasionally gets plugged in. Not at all. Shot at 1 two metres from the flag and stratospheric blow at 12 a span. Given. In addition, three birdies and two bogeys for a round of 66 strokes, five under par, taking advantage of the conditions being even more favourable than yesterday. In fact, Shubhankar Sharma has made the lowest round with 65 strokes, a score that no one could even imagine on Tuesday during the practice round. Yes, the wind blew today, but not with the intensity of yesterday and, in addition, it changed direction. It’s easier.
The two tournaments in which Manassero has made two eagles in the same round before Ireland, things did not go badly. At Jonsson he achieved victory and in India he finished in fifth position. This accumulated six under is also his best result in the Irish Open after two rounds. He has earned himself the label of great favourite for victory. The Italian has a one-stroke lead over Laurie Canter (-5) and Todd Clements (-5). Both posted their result in the morning. Two strokes behind are Rory McIlroy, Alex del Rey and Ewen Ferguson. By the way, in principle, Del Rey and McIlroy will go out to play together this Saturday. Good match.
The afternoon shift has not gone well for the Spaniards. None have managed to make the cut. Manu Elvira, Jorge Campillo, Pablo Larrazábal, Iván Cantero and Alfredo García Heredia are out.
