G-Mac plans to enjoy dream weekend

Jet-lagged Graeme McDowell is hoping a good night’s sleep will help him mount a charge in pursuit of overnight leader Mikko Ilonen as the second round of the Irish Open gets under way at Fota Island Resort today.

Finland’s Ilonen holds a two-shot lead after 18 holes following a course-record, seven-under-par 64 on Fota’s newly-extended 7,043-yard Deerpark track as more than 16,000 spectators flocked to the East Cork venue as the European Tour event returned to the resort for the first time in a dozen years.

McDowell, feeling the effects of an arduous grind at last week’s US Open, followed by transatlantic travel and a practice round at British Open venue Hoylake on Tuesday, lies four shots off the pace at his home Open, having made his debut in the event at Fota in 2002.