Rory McIlroy in contention, and having fun, on home turf

The last time McIlroy made the halfway cut at the Irish Open was 2012 at Royal Portrush when the European Tour bridged a 59-year gap by staging this national open in Northern Ireland.

HAPPY: Rory McIlroy greets fans during day two of the Amgen Irish Open. Pic: Liam McBurney/PA Wire.

Mateo Manassero’s late push to the top of the Amgen Irish Open leaderboard will not dent Rory McIlroy’s confidence that he remains on course for a special weekend on home turf at Royal County Down this weekend.

Manassero, the 2013 BMW PGA Championship winner playing his first season on the DP World Tour since losing his playing rights six years ago following a terrible loss of form, stormed into contention here on Friday with a five-under-par 66. He now leads at the halfway stage of the tournament at six under par, a shot ahead of English duo Todd Clements and Laurie Canter, and two in front of a trio including world number three McIlroy.