Shooting rounds which equal course records should be rewarded, and that's exactly what happened to playing partners Thomas Bjorn and Niclas Fasth as they formed two-thirds of a Scandinavian trio which commands the overnight lead in the Murphy's Irish Open at Fota Island.
"That was one of the most fun rounds I've been part of because it's very rare you go out in a two-ball and both guys shoot the lights out," said Denmark's Bjorn who welcomed the spark returning to his game in today's eight-under 63. "It's been frustrating, I haven't had any low rounds this year, a lot of solid ones but not any like this that you need to win golf tournaments. Bjorn's compatriot Soren Hansen shot 64 for his share of the lead on 11-under 202.
Likewise Fasth enjoyed his round and the company he was in, "We had a nice day out there, obviously both were feeding of each other," said the Swede who chipped in twice at the fourth and 15th. "I have good memories from here, the crowd have been wonderful to me since last year," where he finished runner-up with home favourites Padraig Harrington and Darren Clarke behind the defending champion Colin Montgomerie.
It was a day when the leading groups failed to cope with the more difficult windy conditions and as they faltered, others earlier in the day capitalised on the more favourable conditions. On the whole scoring was low (England's John Bland also equalled the course record) and it was two Irishmen at the start of the day who set the scene.
Graeme McDowell and Clarke registered the first two scores of the day which happened to be matching six-under par 65's. It was a remarkable start to the day made all the better by the manner in which McDowell finished. The 22-year-old Portrush golfer had a grandstand closing sequence of birdie, birdie, eagle.
McDowell didn't mind playing on his own in the first match, it was his choice, but he did admit to getting frustrated before his explosive finish. "I was getting frustrated at playing so well but only being two-under but my caddy and college teammate Craig (Gordon) told me to be patient and I got rewared in the end," he said.
Clarke left the 18th with a sour taste in the mouth after missing an eagle opportunity from close range. "I hit a drive and eight-iron into three feet and missed the putt," mused the Tyroneman afterwards. Both Ulstermen have played their way into contention just four shots adrift of the lead and will now play together tomorrow. A mouth-watering prospect for the home support.
Clarke may not be too far away should he continue to repeat his performance from 12 months ago. Last year he also birided the last hole on the second day to qualify by one shot then shoos 65 and 64 in the last two rounds. And with all the skill and composure displayed by McDowell, the possibilities appear endless for this bright new prospect in only his second professional start. Padraig Harrington (69) had a lively birdie, par, eagle finish of his own to move to five-under but unfortunately it only paved over the cracks of earlier undoings instead of making his move.
"Knowing that the scoring was so good early in the day I just got frustrated when I couldn't hole any putts. I lost it around the eighth and ninth (taking double-bogey, bogey) which was very unusual for me," said Harrington who accepted, "It was a good finish and it tidied up the score but on a Saturday you really want to move forward and I didnt."
Two of the elder statesmen of Irish golf, Eamonn Darcy and Des Smyth, had mixed fortunes on the course. Darcy battled exceptionally well after running up a triple bogey six at the par three 11th to card a 68 and finds himself only three shots back on eight-under. "I tried to be a bit greedy cutting in an eight-iron but found the water," said Darcy of the 11th who went on to land his recovery pitch into the water for a second time. However, four biridies in the last seven holes made amends. "I'm delighted with my position going into the final round," he concluded.
Smyth on the otherhand was only two off the pace at the start of the day and moved into lead with three birdies in the first four holes. Unfortunately it was a false dawn and a poor back nine with four bogeys in five holes for a 72 dropped the Droghedaman back to six-under. Philip Walton made quiet progress with today's 70 which leaves him on three-under overall.
It was an enthralling day of much movement on the leaderboard, where unexpectedly, the first man out on the at 8:21 a.m. (McDowell) finished the day on the same score as Sweden's Carl Pettersson (72) and Australian Peter O'Malley (73) who played in the final group. Montgomerie has virtually played himself out of contention dropping backwards to five-under after today's 74.