Rory McIlroy keen to 'put a nice shine' on golfing year with Irish Open victory

HOME COMFORTS: Rory McIlroy on the 18th green. Pic: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile

Rory McIlroy will look to put “a nice shine” on his golfing year at Royal County Down on Sunday after moving into pole position at the Amgen Irish Open with 18 holes left to play.

The world number three from Holywood, Co. Down, will take a one-shot lead over halfway frontrunner Mateo Manassero of Italy in Sunday’s final round of the DP World Tour event having posted a third-round, two-under-par 69 in the worst conditions of the week at the renowned links on Ireland’s east coast.