Adrien Saddier takes third-round lead at Amgen Irish Open as Rory McIlroy reports 'most frustrating' round
Angel Hidalgo fires a 63 to equal European Tour record while McIlroy shoots a bogey-free 68 to sit tied for fourth at The K Club
Adrien Saddier shot a 68 in the third round of the Amgen Irish Open to take a two-stroke lead at The K Club on Saturday as Rory McIlroy struggled to close the gap despite a bogey-free 68 of his own.
Saddier reached 15 under par to lead the tournament after 54 holes. McIlroy, the world number two and playing in front of a home gallery as he chases a second victory in his national open, finished the day tied for fourth at 11 under.
The round of the day belonged to Angel Hidalgo, who produced a 63 to reach 12 under, equalling the European Tour record for birdies in a round with 12. Hidalgo carved up the front nine with seven consecutive birdies and, despite a double bogey at the 16th, completed a score that moved him well into contention.
Alfredo Garcia-Heredia, McIlroy’s playing partner, carded a 67 that included two eagles and left him alongside Hidalgo at 12 under, one stroke better than McIlroy. Joakim Lagergren, who began the day as the second-round leader, finished level with McIlroy at 11 under.
After signing for a four-under-par 68, McIlroy described the round as frustrating. "As I was walking off the 18th green, I said to Harry (Diamond, caddie) this is probably the most frustrating four-under-par round of golf I've played in a while," he said. He added that he felt he had given himself a lot of chances and had struck good putts but was nonetheless disappointed by the result.
The leaderboard set up a dramatic final round with Saddier carrying a narrow lead into Sunday. Hidalgo’s near-record performance and Garcia-Heredia’s two eagles underscored the volatility of the leaderboard and the opportunity for several players to contend for the title.
Played on the K Club’s demanding layout, the third round featured a mix of low scoring and costly mistakes. Hidalgo’s run of birdies and Saddier’s steady round contrasted with the late miscues from others that opened the door for challengers.
The tournament will conclude with the final round on Sunday, when contenders will attempt to convert their position into a title at one of the European Tour’s most high-profile events in Ireland.