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Rock out to Make Amends at Irish Open
McIlroy Fails Again in Irish Open
Rock out to Make Amends at Irish Open
MAYNOOTH, June 28, 2013 (AFP) - England's Robert Rock is out to make amends for his 2009 Irish Open disappointment after moving to a share of the early clubhouse lead on day two at Carton House on the outskirts of Dublin on Friday.
Rock, 35 commenced his round holing a five-foot birdie before highlighting his day in landing his 281-yard second shot at the fourth hole to four feet and sinking the eagle putt in the overcast and windy conditions.
He signed for a round of 66 for a nine-under par total of 135.
"I've been putting a little bit better lately so to start the day with even a five foot putt for a birdie was nice, and I drove it well for the rest of the round really," he said.
"It was then a relatively easy eagle at the fourth but overall a steady day, no bogeys while a tidy short game kept it going."
Four years ago, Rock found himself facing then Ireland-born amateur Shane Lowry in a play-off for the Irish Open.
In contrast to Rock, Lowry had virtually the entire crowd on his side.
Earlier last year, Rock played the final round of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship alongside 14-time Major winning, Tiger Woods.
Rock captured a second European Tour title by a shot from Rory McIlroy and relegating Woods to a share of third place and two shots behind.
However Rock admitted dealing with the Irish crowd was a far more difficult assignment then going 18 holes with Woods.
"I'll never forget that day, playing with Shane as that was really, really tough," said Rock.
"It was probably harder almost than playing alongside Tiger, because I did feel like I had some people on my side in Abu Dhabi (smiling).
"I don't even think there was one at Baltray."
Former US Amateur champion, Peter Uihlein also set about capturing a second Race to Dubai success in four events after last month breaking through for his first pro victory in capturing the Madeira Islands Open.
Uihilein had spent three-and-a-half years playing in windy conditions while at Oklahoma State University and then capturing the 2010 US Amateur the wind-exposed Chalmers Bay course in Washington State.
"We would play in a tornado in Oklahoma so it was a good experience there, and I feel like in the wind, you don't have to be perfect, which is what I kind of struggle with," he said.
"I would try and be too perfect sometimes and in the wind, you just play golf, you hit shots and you just try and manoeuver it a little bit. I feel like when it gets windy, you have almost a little more room, so I enjoy it."
Four players -Sweden's Oscar Floren (71), Dutchman Joost Luiten (70), Portugal's Ricardo Santos (66) and Spain's Jose Maria Olazabal (69) - share third place on seven under par.
This week marks the 23rd anniversary of Olazabal's 1990 Irish Open success at Portmarnock.
However last year's victorious European Ryder Cup captain is looking for a first victory in nearly eight years.
McIlroy Fails Again in Irish Open
MAYNOOTH, June 28, 2013 (AFP) - World number two Rory McIlroy's troubles with his driver continued as he failed to make the cut in the Irish Open at Carton House on Friday.
McIlroy continues to struggle with the driver, revealing he will meet Nike technical staff again next week before the British Open at Muirfield.
The 24-year posted a second round 72 for a two-over par tally to miss the cut by two shots in windy and overcast conditions.
In 43 stroke-play rounds this year on either the European or PGA Tours, McIlroy has only managed to break 70 on 11 occasions.
"I am spending more time with Nike's technical staff as this was a new driver I had in the bag this week but it still wasn't 100% what I want," he said.
"So I am testing with them again next week.
"I am still confident in my ability to hit the golf ball and hit good shots but then confidence comes from hitting good shots and seeing the ball go in the hole, and shooting good rounds and posting good results.
"I guess in that way the results are not great but from being on the golf course and seeing some good shots today I am definitely more positive now than this time yesterday."
And unlike earlier this year when McIlroy added the Valero Texas Open in the week prior to the Masters, McIlroy will not be tempted to add either next week's French Open or the following week's Scottish Open to his schedule.
"No, I am not going to add a tournament as I am going to take the next two weeks off," he said.
"I have a couple of commitments, including my cousin's wedding next weekend, and then I'm planning to play a first practice round at Muirfield next Monday week, and the start of the week before The Open week," he said.
"If I didn't have these couple of things to then I would probably add a tournament but I just need to find a little consistency in my ball-striking.
"I hit quite a few good shots out there but there are a few bad ones in there and it's those bad ones that are costing me, and I wasn't sharp enough around the greens.
"I was confident when I played in San Antonio because I found something on the range on the Friday night and had a really good weekend that gave me a lot of confidence."
Florida's Peter Uihlein (68) and England's Robert Rock (66) head the Euro 2m event on nine under par.
Six players - Spain's Jose Maria Olazabal, Sweden's Oscar Floren, Holland's Joost Luiten, Portugal's Ricardo Santos and Ireland's Shane Lowry - share third place at seven under par.
Scotland's Scott Henry recorded a new Carton House course record of an eight-under-par 64 and two shots fewer than the previous mark set by four players including Denmark's Thomas Bjorn on route to victory in 2006.
Leading second round scores in the Irish Open at the Carton House course in Maynooth, Ireland, on Friday (par 72, GBR & IRL unless stated):
135 - Robert Rock 69 66, Peter Uihlein (USA) 67 68
137 - Jose-Maria Olazabal (ESP) 68 69, Shane Lowry 67 70, Joost Luiten (NED) 67 70, Ricardo Santos (POR) 71 66, Oscar Floren (SWE) 66 71
138 - Scott Henry 74 64, Pablo Larrazabal (ESP) 69 69, Raphael Jacquelin (FRA) 69 69
139 - Daniel Gaunt (AUS) 71 68, Anders Hansen (DEN) 69 70, Peter Whiteford 71 68, Thomas Bjorn (DEN) 68 71, Rafael Cabrera Bello (ESP) 69 70
140 - Francesco Molinari (ITA) 73 67, Jorge Campillo (ESP) 72 68, Alvaro Quiros (ESP) 72 68, Paul Casey 68 72, Emiliano Grillo (ARG) 73 67, Jamie Donaldson 69 71, Alejandro Canizares (ESP) 71 69, Eddie Pepperell 71 69, Alexandre Kaleka (FRA) 72 68
141 Soren Kjeldsen (DEN) 71 70, Gareth Shaw 73 68, Danny Willett 73 68, Chris Paisley 69 72, Oliver Fisher 71 70, Jose Manuel Lara (ESP) 71 70, Stephen Dodd 71 70, Paul Lawrie 71 70, Justin Walters (RSA) 72 69, Fredrik Andersson Hed (SWE) 70 71