McIlroy sets up intriguing weekend tussle with Willett

McIlroy had missed the cut in his home event for the last three years but added a second round of 70 to his opening 67 at The K Club to finish just a shot behind Willett and Scotland’s Marc Warren.

Warren surged through the field with a superb 66 to join Sheffield’s Willett on eight under par, the world No 9 carding five birdies and four bogeys in a 71 in his second tournament since claiming a maiden major title at Augusta.

McIlroy is the only member of the world’s top five without a win in 2016 and admitted he was frustrated at what he felt was “negative spin” being put on his results, which include six top-10 finishes in 10 events.

“I knew I was coming in here playing pretty well so I never thought the cut was going to be an issue. I’m excited to be up there with a chance to win,” said the world No 3, who has slipped more than four points behind No 1 Jason Day in the rankings after the Australian’s seventh win in his last 17 events in the Players Championship.

“The Irish Open is one of the most important tournaments of my year and I’d dearly love to win it one day. I feel like I’ve given myself a great chance.”

Asked if he could find another gear over the weekend, the tournament host added: “I do. There’s definitely more in there. Whether I get to show that could depend on the conditions, but I just feel like there’s something waiting there to click and when it does, I could be off and running and that could be the catapult or the momentum that I need to have another great summer.”

Willett beat the scoring average for the field by an incredible 8.9 shots with an opening 65, but struggled to reproduce that form despite again getting the best of the weather conditions.

“It wasn’t bad, a little bit scrappy,” the 28-year-old said.

“It was windy at times and there were a couple of sneakier flags out there as well so you can’t come off being joint leader and be too unhappy.”

Asked what he can go on to achieve in his career, Willett added: “I have no idea. I really don’t.

“You practice, you work hard and you do what I’ve already 
done and it’s just now more of the same.

“You kind of re-evaluate things and make sure you don’t get too complacent. We’ve worked very hard to get where we have.

“Other people think you’re able to come out and win every week because you won a major, but we know that doesn’t happen.”