Late Double Bogey Derails Rory McIlroy at Irish Open

STRAFFAN, Ireland — From 116 yards, Rory McIlroy hit a flip gap wedge that landed beyond the hole, spun back and trickled a little right and dropped into the cup for an eagle on the par-5 16th hole.

As he reached the green, he retrieved the ball, and tossed it over the water to the spectators, who were still buzzing from what they witnessed from their favorite player.

It was a highlight of the round, and McIlroy was all smiles as he jumped to 6 under. He had two holes remaining and the leaders, Shubhankar Sharma and Jordan Smith, were at 13 under.

But then McIlroy hit a fairway wood right, into the trees and thick rough. It was the same area where Smith a couple of groups earlier had been, and McIlroy left with a double bogey after missing a 3-footer for bogey.

It was McIlroy’s first double since he made a 5 on the par-3 eighth hole in the second round of the Travelers Championship in June, 431 holes previously.

McIlroy made birdie at 18 to finish at 5 under, but the damage was done and now McIlroy will need to make up eight shots and jump 24 players on the weekend.

“I thought I hit the ball better from tee-to- green today compared to yesterday,” McIlroy said. “I didn't really hole anything, I gave myself plenty of chances and felt like I was hitting decent putts, but some just lacked a little bit of speed and others I hit through the break.”

K Club was yielding low scores throughout the day. McIlroy signed for a 70.

“Just need to try to limit the mistakes a bit more,” McIlroy said. “I made a double-bogey on 16 and I was saying to Harry after the round, I can't remember the last time I made a double-bogey. It's been a few months. Need to just eradicate the mistakes, and if I can do that, get the ball in play off the tee a little bit more, I feel like I'll still have a decent chance.”

McIlroy understands he has 36 holes remaining, and he won’t need to force things in Saturday’s third round. But missing the fairway and playing from heavy, thick rough has cost him some shots this week.

“I don't have to do any pushing, I just have to get the ball in play off the tee and if I can do that, I think my iron play’s good enough to take advantage of giving myself opportunities from the fairway,” McIlroy said. “So if anything it might be, play more conservatively off the tee, so that then I am giving myself those chances from the fairway and I'm giving myself chances, sort of inside 15 -20 feet every time.”