McIlroy is back in the groove

GOLF:THE TWIRL of the club was back, his post-swing digestif indicating the measure of Rory McIlroy's well-being. All was well with the world. And, yesterday, as German Marcel Siem assumed the midway lead of the Irish Open at Killarney Golf Fishing Club hard by the shore of Lough Leane, the congested leaderboard – a rainbow of different nationalities – had sufficient hues of green to promise an intriguing couple of days ahead.

On a calm day which offered near-perfect conditions, the air was sucked out of the tournament for a time when Darren Clarke, still struggling with “self-inflicted man ‘flu”, and Pádraig Harrington were handed early exit tickets.

The depression didn’t last long, though as the two other Irish Major winners – McIlroy and Graeme McDowell, who celebrates his 32nd birthday today – transformed their challenges.

As the late evening sun dipped over the MacGillycuddy Reeks, Siem – in the third from last group – came in with a second successive 66 for 132, 10-under-par, to claim the top spot. He only had to look over his shoulder to see a pack of pursuers, led by Danish Ryder Cup player Soren Hansen and Indian Jeev Milkha Singh just a shot behind.

However, with no fewer than 35 players within six shots of the lead, Siem knows the hard part has yet to be played out on a course which, although penalising waywardness or lack of concentration, has offered players a plethora of birdies and more than a few eagles.

A quartet of players headed the Irish challenge when the mid-point was reached. Amateur Paul Cutler, yet another player brought along on the conveyor belt from the North, was on the 136, six-under, mark along with Peter Lawrie, Damien McGrane and Michael Hoey.

But, perhaps more intriguingly, McIlroy and McDowell, his predecessor as US Open champion, instilled new life into their challenges to lie on 138, six behind the leader, and with all to play for heading into the business end of the €1.5 million tournament.

In all, nine Irish players made the cut – Cutler, Lawrie, McGrane, Hoey, McIlroy, McDowell, Colm Moriarty, Simon Thornton and John Kelly – while the biggest casualties when the cut fell on 141, one under, were British Open champion Clarke and three-time Major winner Harrington.

McIlroy’s round seemed headed nowhere until he headed for home, catching fire with a hat-trick of birdies from the 14th to sign for a 68; while McDowell, playing beautifully on the front nine which he covered in 31 strokes, put his name to a 66 that invigorated his quest for a first win on tour this season.

All of the shenanigans of the twitter war of day one were effectively put to bed, even if McIlroy expanded on his reasoning for going so public in replying to TV commentator Jay Townsend.

“I don’t care if he criticises me, because I am the golfer, I’m the one who hits the shots. I have to stand up for JP (Fitzgerald) because he’s the best man that I think I can have on my bag.”

McIlroy claimed he had been aware of Townsend’s criticism of his caddie going back to the European Masters in Switzerland in 2008. “I thought I had to stand up for JP, he has taken me from 200th in the world to major champion and now fourth in the world . . . I’m focused on my golf, once I get out on the golf course, that’s where I’m most comfortable.”

Yesterday, McIlroy – who looked in danger of missing the cut when he bogeyed the seventh hole – buckled down impressively to the task. He birdied the ninth and then rolled off three in a row from the 14th to lift the crowd (officially put at 20,215 yesterday) and his own expectations.

“If I shoot two rounds in the mid-60s, I’ll be in with a great shout. I just have to be smart and play positive golf and give myself a lot of chances . . . if I get off to a good start, maybe two or three-under after five, I’m right back in the tournament,” said McIlroy, who felt the work he did on the range on Thursday reaped dividends yesterday when he hit 12 of 15 fairways compared to just four in the first round.

McDowell’s driving was even more impressive, he found 14 of 15 fairways. The Portrush man got off to a flying start – hitting a three-wood to six feet on the first for birdie and then a lob wedge to four feet for another on the second – that kick-started his charge.

“I’m happy to make a weekend in the Irish Open, my record (in the event) is not stellar . . . we’re disappointed that Pádraig and Darren are not here, but we’ll try and make a weekend of it and see if we can get a home winner,” said McDowell.