2 months ago
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When the Irish Open last visited the immaculately manicured links of Royal County Down in 2015, the expected charge up the leaderboard from a strong home contingent never materialised.
Instead, it was Denmark's Soren Kjeldsen who lifted the trophy having beaten Eddie Pepperell and Bernd Wiesberger in a play-off.
On that occasion, Darren Clarke was the best of the home hopes, the 2011 Open champion finishing eight shots adrift of the play-off. Graeme McDowell was a shot worse off with Shane Lowry and Padraig Harrington finishing outside the top-40.
And Rory McIlroy, the tournament's headline attraction, hadn't even made the weekend.
Nine years ago, McIlroy's hopes of a stirring win in his home county were emphatically shattered by an opening 80.
McIlroy has not become one of his generation's finest players without resilience, though. His next Irish Open appearance - at the K Club in 2016 - ended in victory.
And on his return to Royal County Down this week, those slumped shoulders of nine years ago have made way for a confident strut during an impressive opening 36 holes that leaves the world number three ominously tucked in behind the leaders.
In his rearview mirror is Lowry, three shots further back. In recent years Lowry and McIlroy have shared champagne-soaked Ryder Cup celebrations, represented Team Ireland at the Olympics and even won a PGA Tour together - the Zurich Classic in April.
The prospect of them chasing each other home with their national open on the line over the weekend is too tantalising not to think about, however, with even Lowry considering the possibility as he spoke to reporters after his second-round 69.
"I think it's what the tournament wants and needs," said Lowry of a possible duel with the four-time major winner.
"Obviously myself, and Rory is up there. It would be great if the two of us could give it a run on Sunday. You never know.
"It would be nice to go toe-to-toe on Sunday. We'll see. It's up to me to get myself there. I'm pretty sure he'll be there anyway."
Those making their way to Newcastle on Saturday will also hope to see Tom McKibbin fire his way into contention after a battling second-round 69 saw him safely make the cut.
McKibbin, who is one-over par, followed McIlroy around Royal County Down as a wide-eyed 12-year-old fan in 2015. But here, the 21-year-old will be the one stopping for autographs and may even start to think about winning the thing with a good round on Saturday.
"It's always a big deal for the home guys to play well in their national open," said McIlroy, who played alongside McKibbin in the opening two rounds.
"This is no different and to have a few of us up there, it only enhances the tournament."
McIlroy would surely be the most popular winner, though, especially in a year which has to this point been defined by his heartbreaking near-miss at the US Open.
With a gruelling PGA Tour season behind him, he has cut a relaxed-but-focused figure this week as he bids for a first professional win in Northern Ireland.
His mood has been helped by sleeping in his own bed in Holywood and a comfortable grouping with McKibbin, who now has McIlroy's friend Ricky McCormick on the bag.
But McIlroy also revealed he has enjoyed returning home more in the past couple of years having been based in Florida for over a decade.
"My mindset has been I was excited to get back over to Europe," he said.
"After that long stretch in America in the summer and the three FedEx Cup play-off events, I was excited to get back to Europe and play some golf over here.
"I'm trying to embrace that as best I can. I'm happy to be here, I feel like I've enjoyed coming back to Europe and coming home even more the last couple of years and [I'm] just excited to spend some more time over here."
English (US)