Summary

  • Irish Open third round at the K Club in County Kildare

  • Adrien Saddier fires 68 to take one-shot lead into final round

  • World number two Rory McIlroy four behind on 11 under after bogey-free 68

  • Ryder Cup players Shane Lowry and Tyrrell Hatton fail to make big move

  1. McIlroy scrambles to save parpublished at 13:28 British Summer Time

    Garcia-Heredia -8, McIlroy -7 (3)

    Excellent recovery from behind the third green for Rory McIlroy and he rolls in the putt, too!

    That's a big early par save for the Masters champ.

    Par five up next.

    Rory McIlroyImage source, Getty Images
  2. Bogey for overnight leaderpublished at 13:27 British Summer Time

    Lagergren -11, Saddier -11 (1)

    Oh!

    Joakim Lagergren misses a short par putt at the first and he's already moving in the wrong direction.

    Adrien Saddier picks up his par.

  3. Hatton still six behindpublished at 13:26 British Summer Time

    Hatton -6 (3)

    No early birdies for Tyrrell Hatton.

    The Englishman has begun with three straight pars and has been characteristically demonstrative today when putts haven't dropped.

    Like Rory McIlroy, the Ryder Cup star needs to get a move on to keep up with all the big movers on the leaderboard.

  4. Postpublished at 13:21 British Summer Time

    Garcia-Heredia -8, McIlroy -7 (2)

    The wind is certainly freshening up a touch out there, making birdies increasingly difficult to find.

    Par-three third for Rory McIlroy. "Ahhh not there!" he cries after hitting his eight-iron. He was right to be concerned - his ball flies long and takes a wicked bounce and hurtles towards the gallery.

    Short-game wizardry required.

  5. Postpublished at 13:18 British Summer Time

    Garcia-Heredia -8, McIlroy -7 (2)

    Rory McIlroy's drive at the second just nestles into the rough and he's drawn a heavy lie.

    It's enough to impact the quality of the strike as his hand comes off his club. The ball comes up well short and he two-putts from there to pick up another par.

    A par for Alfredo Garcia-Heredia, too, which is well earned after a spot of tree trouble.

  6. Seventh heaven for Hidalgopublished at 13:10 British Summer Time

    Hidalgo -12 (8)

    Folks, I think we're on 59 watch here.

    Angel Hidalgo has just rolled in a 15-footer for his seventh successive birdie and he joins Joakim Lagergren at the top before the Swede has even struck a ball.

    Incredible move by the Spaniard!

  7. Irish challengerspublished at 13:06 British Summer Time

    Lowry -6 (9), McKibbin -5 (5)

    Shane Lowry delighted the crowds yesterday with a hole-out eagle two at the 13th, but the rest of his round was a bit of mixed bag.

    He started well today with two birdies in his opening four, but it's been all pars since.

    The former Open champion needs a big back nine if he's going to be a factor heading into the final round.

    No move from Tom McKibbin so far. Five pars to start and he's still five under.

  8. Par start for McIlroypublished at 13:03 British Summer Time

    Garcia-Heredia -8, McIlroy -7 (1)

    A fine approach into the opening green for Rory McIlroy, but his downhill putt slides off to the right and he'll have to make do with an opening par.

    Alfredo Garcia-Heredia is 43 years old and has never won on the DP World Tour, but there's no sign of early nerves from the Spaniard as he knocks his approach in close and makes birdie!

  9. Six in a row for Hidalgopublished at 13:01 British Summer Time

    Hidalgo -11 (7)

    Angel Hidalgo is really feeling it today!

    Make that six birdies in a row, his latest arriving at the par-four seventh.

    The Spaniard is just one off the lead.

    Hidalgo beat Jon Rahm in a play-off to win his national title last year, so he won't be overawed by the big crowds out there.

  10. Postpublished at 12:57 British Summer Time

    Ayora -8 (10)

    It's birdies galore at the K Club today and 20-year-old Spaniard Angel Ayora is getting in on the action.

    He's just picked up four shots in the space of five holes around the turn and has gotten himself to eight under.

    Big talent this lad.

  11. McIlroy under waypublished at 12:53 British Summer Time

    McIlroy -7, Garcia-Heredia -7

    A typically full-throated reception for Rory McIlroy on the first tee. And an opening drive to watch.

    The world number two is paired with Spain's Alfredo Garcia-Heredia today. He finds the fairway, too.

    Off we go!

  12. How things standpublished at 12:49 British Summer Time

    Here is how the top of the leaderboard looks as the leaders prepare to head out.

    Leaderboard
  13. McIlroy ready for weekend chargepublished at 12:48 British Summer Time

    McIlroy -7 (12:50 BST)

    Rory McIlroyImage source, Getty Images

    Rory McIlroy is many people's favourite this weekend after an impressive bogey-free 66 on Friday vaulted the Masters champion into the mix.

    Here is what the world number two had to say after his round yesterday:

    "I'm really pleased with the day's work, and it keeps me within touching distance going into the weekend.

    "Obviously the two boys are a little bit ahead of the rest of the pack, but I feel like I'm close enough, if I do have a good weekend, to chase them down.

    "I got it going [down the stretch], and I hit some good shots coming in.

    "I guess in the middle of the back nine, I felt like I should be a few shots better than I was and just sort of stayed patient, knuckled down, hit some good shots, and took advantage of it."

  14. Hot startspublished at 12:44 British Summer Time

    Hidalgo -10 (6), JS Olesen -9 (5)

    Angel HidalgoImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    Angel Hidalgo is taking advantage of the good scoring conditions

    There's been some early movers today and none more so than Spain's Angel Hidalgo.

    The 27-year-old carded five consecutive birdies from the second and has shown the leaders the low scoring out on the course.

    Denmark's Jacob Skov Olesen has also started well with four birdies in his first five.

    The rain is staying away for now so we should see plenty of birdies today. Just what we want.

  15. Moving Day at the K Clubpublished at 12:40 British Summer Time

    Welcome to 'Moving Day' at the Irish Open!

    The leaders are about to tee off at the K Club, but first let's catch up on some of the early third-round action.

    Rory McIlroyImage source, Getty Images