Rory McIlroy was feeling it.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He ended the opening round of the Irish Open on a sour note, shooting 1-under 71 with consecutive bogeys late\u2014and a slow play warning. Yet, he was still encouraged by how he played.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Then, walking to the practice range ahead of Friday\u2019s round of the Irish Open, the wave of support moved him. And the Northern Irishman rode the energy to a bogey-free 66.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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That moved McIlroy to T3 at seven under, five strokes behind Joakim Lagergren of Sweden, who shot 62 in Round 3 at the K Club. France\u2019s Adrien Saddier is one back of the lead.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI felt like I hit the ball pretty similarly to yesterday,\u201d McIlroy said, \u201cmaybe gave myself a few more chances with the approach shots. Yeah, I just didn’t make a bogey, which was nice. A couple of good par saves on the back nine and finished well with a couple of birdies on the last three holes.\u201d<\/p>\n
On the par-5 16th, trouble loomed for McIlroy after he splashed his second shot into the water. However, despite taking a drop, he salvaged par by chipping to a foot. <\/p>\n
Following a birdie on the par-4 17th, the five-time major winner nearly ended his round with fireworks by flirting with an albatross on the par-5 18th but settled for a birdie after missing an 8-foot eagle putt. <\/p>\n
Rory McIlroy nearly pitches it in the hole for albatross \ud83e\udd2f#AmgenIrishOpen<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/eHlkDVPT5o<\/a><\/p>\n