Hurly Long in the lead at Irish Open as McIlroy gives chase

By Rahul Banerji

There was little change at the Irish Open on Moving Day and Germany’s Hurly Long topped the field on 13 under par with overnight leaders Shubhankar Sharma and Jordan Smith falling behind.

Starting on 13-under totals Smith was second on 12 under 204 with a 73 on Saturday while Shubhankar had a difficult day and managed a 3 over 75 to share fourth place.

The Indian star’s 10-under total had him three shots behind the leader and leaves him with a chance to play catch up given his recent form that included a memorable Sunday at The Open in July.

Round three though is one Sharma would like to put behind, mixing a double-bogey 6 on hole 6 with three bogeys and two birdies to slip three shots off the leading runner.

Steady climb

In between, world number two Rory McIlroy continued his climb up the leaderboard with a 6 under 66 on Saturday and he is in sole third place on 11 under 205, two behind Long.

Germany’s Long will need to hold off a stellar chasing pack if he is to claim a maiden DP World Tour title, the tour website said.

With all three members of the final group slipping at The K Club on Saturday, the 28-year-old took full advantage, carding four birdies and two bogeys in a third-round 70 to reach 13 under par and hit the front.

McIlroy, bidding to win his second Irish Open title after victory at this venue in 2016, produced some of his best golf with seven birdies and one bogey in front of bumper crowds.

Long began the day two shots off the lead but soon closed the gap courtesy of back-to-back birdies at the fourth and fifth.

Accurate play

The German’s first bogey of the day at the next hole saw him lose his share of the lead but he pulled off one of the shots of the day on the ninth to return to 13 under.

Long lifted his approach to within two feet before slotting in the putt to close the front nine with a birdie and grab the outright lead.

Another bogey arrived at the 11th, dropping Long into a share for first place on 12 under.

Six successive pars followed before Long finished his round with a two-putt birdie from 45 feet, having narrowly missed his eagle try.

Long has struggled for form in 2023, with joint-30th finishes at the Magical Kenya Open Presented by Absa and the Singapore Classic his best results so far.

But he has impressed in Ireland this week and is looking forward to the final round.

Exciting prospect

On the prospect of playing alongside crowd favourite McIlroy, Long said: “It’s exciting.

“Last year at The Belfry I was leading after two rounds, and there were ginormous crowds out there as well.

“So I can take something from that. I’ve got a good attitude. I know it’s going to be way more difficult tomorrow than it was even today but you can feed off that just as well.

“So I’m just looking forward to it either way.

“I was happy with my round overall. It was nice to finish on a birdie.”

Englishman Smith, who mixed three birdies with a double bogey and two bogeys, said: “It’s going to be good fun playing with Rory. 

“But I’ve just got to stick to my own game. Ball-striking is fine. Just a few unlucky breaks today.

“I look forward to it. It will be great. The crowds will be great. It will be loud and just hopefully the weather sticks.”

Also read: Shubhankar Sharma in share of halfway lead at Irish Open