McDowell two strokes off as final day gets underway at Fota
The final round of this year’s Irish Open is well underway at Fota Island in Cork.
Graeme McDowell is two strokes behind Finland’s Miko Ilonen and aiming for a home town victory as they head into today’s final round.
McDowell, 10 under par for the tournament, tees off at 12:21pm and will play with Paraguy’s Fabrizo Zanotti who is nine under par overnight.
Two strokes clear of McDowell, leader Miko Ilonen will tee off at 12:30pm and will play the penultimate round with England’s Danny Willett who set a new course record yesterday.
McDowell has eyes on winning his first Irish Open and told Sky Sports yesterday of his hopes for a hometown victory in county Cork.
“It would be a big boost for me in terms of my tour standing, but I think it’s more important for everyon in Ireland to get a hometown victory.
“With the British Open announcement, Rory and his Olympic announcement and generally what’s going on in Irish golf, it would be great to win.”
McDowell has a lot of company as the chasing pack look to reel in Ilonen who has played nice, constant golf over the first three days.
A group of four are just three strokes behind Ilonen, including McDowell’s playing partner for the day Zanotti.
Zanotii is joined at nine under par by French man Romain Wattell, Sweden’s Kristoffer Broberg and England’s Matthew Baldwin. Baldwin and Broberg are under way at 12:12pm.
Padraig Harrington who shot a level par 71 on Saturday will look to work up the leader board. Harrington tee’s off at 11:04, six under in the clubhouse.
Harrington’s chances of victory were dashed with a pour opening nine yesterday, is looking to return to the form which saw him win three majors.
Gary Hurley the only amateur to make the cut was the first under way this morning and is currently two over after a double bogey five at the third.
West Waterford man Hurley (20), is eight over for the tournament with three holes left to play.
Darren Clarke is one under par for the round after seven holes. Clarke opened with birdies on two and four, before bogeying seven. Clarke is one under overall.
Forty--year-old Dubliner Peter Lawrie, opened with a birdie on the first and moves to three under for the weekend.
Lawrie opened the week with a two under par 69 on Thursday, before finishing one over on Friday and then finishing one under yesterday.
Micheal Hoey opens his final round at 10:19pm, while John G Kelly got underway at one minute past 10.
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