Rory McIlroy Surges Into Contention at Irish Open K Club

Rory McIlroy surged into contention at the Amgen Irish Open after a bogey-free second-round 66, placing him seven under par and tied for third, five shots behind leader Joakim Lagergren. Lagergren, who posted a remarkable 62 including nine birdies and an eagle, leads by one over France’s Adrien Saddier. McIlroy, who won the Irish Open at the K Club in 2016, praised his strong finish and remains confident about chasing down the leaders over the weekend. He narrowly missed an eagle on the par-five 18th after an impressive approach shot that nearly holed out, highlighting his strong iron play and consistent fairway accuracy. The Northern Irishman is building momentum ahead of the Ryder Cup and welcomed the large, supportive crowds at the event. Despite the two leaders pulling slightly ahead, McIlroy believes he is close enough to mount a serious challenge if he maintains his form.