McIlroy contending in Rome as McClean heads Foley at Erin Hills
Matthew McClean hits his tee shot on the 16th hole during the finals at the 2022 U.S. Mid-Amateur at Erin Hills in Erin, Wis. on Friday, Sept. 16, 2022. (Steven Gibbons/USGA)
Rory McIlroy produced a fast finish to take a one-shot lead over US Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick into the weekend at the DS Automobiles Italian Open.
As Matthew McClean claimed a 2-up lead over Hugh Foley after the first 18 holes of the US Mid-Amateur final in Wisconsin with the winner today set for dream starts in the Masters and US Open, McIlroy beat the setting sun in Rome to snatch the lead.
After taking over three hours to play the front nine, world number two covered the back in two hours 15 minutes with former Open champion Francesco Molinari running from the 17th green to the 18th tee to ensure the group avoided an early return to the course today.
The hooter sounded two minutes later to announce play had been suspended due to fading light but McIlroy had the option to finish the hole and his round and birdied the 18th for a one-shot lead over Fitzpatrick, who shot 69, on nine-under,
“Probably saved myself about three hours in bed tomorrow after getting done so happy about that and obviously looking forward to the weekend now,” said McIlroy, who made an eagle, six birdies and three bogeys in a five-under 66 to Fitzpatrick’s 69.
“I shortsided myself a couple of times today and was able to play some good shots to get myself out of it and holed the putts afterwards.
“Fitz has had an unbelievable year, (winning) his first major championship and he’s really matured into one of the best players in the world. I’m looking forward to going up against him here over the weekend.”
It was also a great day for Royal Dublin’s Niall Kearney, who needs a big week between now and the end of his season to earn a full card, as he carded a four-under 67 to sit inside the cut line on level par.
Paul Dunne shot 72 and Cormac Sharvin a 73 to slip to four-over alongside Jonny Caldwell, who has five holes to complete early today.
Fitzpatrick will have McIlroy for company in the Masters and the US Open at Los Angeles Country Club next year and either McClean or Foley will be joining them as US Mid-Amateur champion after they came through the semi-finals at faux-Irish links, Erin Hills in Wisconsin.
Royal Dublin’s Foley (25) beat Minnesota’s Bryce Hanstad 3&2 as Malone’s McClean (29) beat North Dakota’s Josh Persons by the same margin to set up an all-Irish final.
“Insane,” said reigning North and South of Ireland champion Foley, who beat international teammate McClean in this year’s AIG Irish Close semi-finals. “It’s just been unbelievable. Me and Matt have spent every second of the trip together.”
The first half of the final went very much McClean’s way and while he might have been four up after 18, he lost the 18th to lead by just two holes.
Foley won the first in par but lost the second third and fourth to go two down, levelled the match with wins in birdies at the seventh and 10th but then conceded three holes in a row from the 12th fo find himself 3-down.
He felt he might have pulled a hole back when he made a 30-footer for a two at the 16th but McClean followed him in from 13 feet to retain his 3-up lead before Foley was conceded the last after McClean got into trouble.
“I was saying to [caddie] Dan, 3-down wasn't too bad, and then birdied 16, had a good finish to get one back to 2, it does feel a little bit -- momentum is huge in match play, and it definitely felt like it could have been worse out there for a little bit. It's nice to get in and get one back before.”
The pair are sharing a car and staying with friends this week and while McClean is not sure if they will discuss the golf over dinner, he considers the match all but all square.
As for the perks of the Masters and the US Open, McClean and Foley had differing attitudes.
“It's there,” Foley said. “We all know the Masters and the U.S. Open is the perk, so don't avoid it, but don't be afraid of losing it. I think it would be nice, if you win, it's great; if you lose, to say I didn't tighten up and I didn't fall at the finish line. I think it's just important to not banish it from your mind, just accept it as there but not be afraid of it.”
As for McClean, he said: “Yeah, you probably try not to think about it at all is the plan, the same with sort of any tournament. You try not to think about anything other than the shot you're playing, which is always easier said than done, but yeah, it's the same as any other tournament with all its perks, but as I said, it's trying just to play each hole, and not think at all in advance.”
In the LPGA’s Amazingcre Portland Classic, Leona Maguire looked to be heading for an early flight home for next week’s KPMG Women’s Irish Open after adding a 73 to her opening 75 to sit four shots outside the projected cut line on four-over.
At the fog-delayed Open de Portugal, Ruaidhri McGee (69) was the best of the Irish, tied for 29th on two-under with Conor Purcell, who has two holes to play in his second round at Royal Óbidos.
They are five strokes behind Stuart Manley and Nathan Kimsey with Gavin Moynihan tied 40th after a 72.
Gary Hurley sits on the cut line at level par after a 70, tied for 58th with Tom McKibbin, who has nine holes to play.
John Murphy will miss out on four-over after a 73.
There was no luck for the Irish at the First Stage Section C of the DP World Tour Q-School at Arlandastad Golf in Sweden.
Clontarf’s Gary McGrane and Royal Dublin amateur Richard Knightly closed with five-over 75s to finish on 11 over and 13-over respectively as the top 17 who qualified finish on two-over or better,
American Matt Oshrine won by seven shots from compatriot Sean Walsh on 12-under.
There’s a round to go in the battle to finish in the top 12 and ties in the First Stage Section C at Golfresort Haugschlag in Austria.
China’s Siyan Liu leads by four shots on 18-under with Tramore’s Robin Dawson just inside the qualifying places, tied for 11th on three-under after a third-round 69.
Stephen Grant, who is now reinstated as an amateur, shot 74 to share 32nd on two-over.
In the PGA Cup at Foxhills, the USA heads a GB&I side featuring David Higgins and Simon Thornton 5.5-2.5 after winning three of the four afternoon foursomes.
On the PGA Tour, Max Homa shot 67 and Danny Willett a 64 to lead the Fortinet Championship by two shots on 12-under while in the Sanford International on the PGA Tour Champions, Robert Karlsson’s eight-under 62 gave him a one-shot lead over Kevin Sutherland and Darren Clarke.
Padraig Harrington was tied 13th after a 66 with Charles Schwab leader Steven Alker two shots further back in tied 36th.
On the PGA Europro Tour, Dermot McElroy claimed his fourth runner-up finish of the season in The Eagle Orchid Scottish Masters where Ronan Mullarney tied for fourth.
