Danny Willett And Marc Warren Share Lead Into Weekend At Irish Open
Written 1 year ago by Will O'Callaghan
Danny Willett and Marc Warren share the lead at the half-way stage of the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open.
After the cold and rain disrupted play for the afternoon starters at the K Club, the 8-under par score of Willett and Warren was never in danger.
The pair are just a shot clear of tournament host Rory McIlroy, who kept himself in contention with a 2-under par round of 70 today.
England’s Matthew Southgate was the only late starter to make an impression – his round of 69 has left him in fourth place on 5-under, which means that he’ll partner McIlroy tomorrow.
McIlroy feels he’s given himself a real chance to win his home open.
“I knew I was coming in here playing pretty well so I never thought the cut was going to be an issue. I’m excited to be up there with a chance to win,” said the world number three, who has slipped more than four points behind number one Jason Day in the rankings after the Australian’s seventh win in his last 17 events in the Players Championship.
“The Irish Open is one of the most important tournaments of my year and I’d dearly love to win it one day. I feel like I’ve given myself a great chance.”
Asked if he could find another gear over the weekend, the tournament host added: “I do. There’s definitely more in there. Whether I get to show that could depend on the conditions, but I just feel like there’s something waiting there to click and when it does, I could be off and running and that could be the catapult or the momentum that I need to have another great summer.”
Of the rest of the Irish players…
Paul McGinley, Graeme McDowell and Gavin Moynihan are on 1-under heading into the weekend.
Darren Clarke and Gary Hurley finished on level par while Paul Dunne and Kevin Phelan will resume tomorrow from 1-over.
Clara’s Shane Lowry has also scraped into the weekend field after sinking an eight-foot putt on the 18th to salvage a par that saw him finish just inside the cut on 2-over.
But there was disappointment for Padraig Harrington who finished-up on 4-over par.
Glasson’s Colm Moriarty also missed the weekend after ending on 5-over.
Image – Andrew Redington/Getty Images Europe
