-Joakim Lagergren (-12) and Adrien Saddier (-11) have significantly raised the bar at the Irish Open, with rounds of 62 and 66 strokes in the afternoon session of the second day, taking them to a different dimension from the rest of the competitors. Tomorrow, they will start with a five and four-stroke lead, respectively, over their closest pursuers. The Swede has been sinking long and mid-range putts, one of his lifelong specialties, even more so, obviously, when he’s in form, which is precisely the case at this stage of the season. And Saddier continues to show us day by day that he is determined to become a much more serious and consistent golfer.
-One of the immediate pursuers, however, is Rory Mcilroy (-7), so the last word has not been said here. It wasn’t, in any case, with 36 holes to play, but much less with the World Number 2 lurking. Alfredo García Heredia (-7), Thorbjorn Olesen (-7), and Daniel Hillier (-7) share third place with the Northern Irishman.
-Rory made a huge leap in quality in his game today, much more balanced than on Thursday. It is assumed that he is looking to reach Bethpage in the best possible way in three weeks, but a sweet victory is always welcome, especially for him on Irish soil. And at the formidable North Course of the K Club, where he already won this same tournament almost a decade ago (2016). Anyway, he wasn’t quite getting into the groove, while Lagergren and Saddier were flying… Until he reached the last third of the round. On the 13th hole, he almost had the birdie given; on the 14th, a par 3, he sank a putt of over six metres for birdie; on the 15th, he calmly saved a tricky situation after missing the tee shot; on the 16th, a par 5, he saved par after going into the water with the second shot; he played the 17th by the book and got the birdie; and on the 18th, he wasn’t far from making an albatross from about 160 metres and then settled for the birdie after missing a putt of just over two metres. Rory in essence. The Rory we all want at Bethpage, with all the good, which is almost everything, and even with those touches of uncertainty that make him such a special player.
-Ángel Hidalgo (-5) has also positioned himself well for the weekend with a round of 69 strokes. The player from Málaga gave his round a serious boost with the eagle he scored on the 10th hole, a par 5… And no, it wasn’t a typical eagle: Ángel has developed the good habit of regularly providing some of the day’s highlights, whether he plays well or not so well, and today he holed out from 120 metres. Another Andalusian, Ángel Ayora (-4), also took a step forward with a round of 71 strokes, one less on the day. A shame about that silly three-putt on the 8th hole, the penultimate of his round, the only blemish on the card.
-Nacho Elvira (-2), co-leader after the first day, struggled more than expected today, mainly due to two balls in the water on holes 7 and 16, where he scored a triple bogey and a double, respectively. But he will be there for the weekend and has room to make a comeback. Eugenio Chacarra (-1) also made the cut, while Pablo Larrazábal, Iván Cantero, and Jorge Campillo missed out.
