Rory McIlroy misses the cut at the Irish Open for third successive year as Padraig Harrington keeps in touch with the leaders

Irish Open host Rory McIlroy fails to make cut for a third successive year
It has been a tough outing for many of the players at Royal County Down
Padraig Harrington had hoped McIlroy would be favourite to lift the trophy
McIlroy said the mixture of wind, rain and links golf was not to his liking
After hitting a 73 on Friday Harrington is now just one shot off the lead

Published:
18:37 GMT, 29 May 2015

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Updated:
21:30 GMT, 29 May 2015

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The next time Rory McIlroy makes a beeline towards the stars with invitations to attend the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open, one or two of them might start running.

How about Ryder Cup hero Victor Dubuisson, who had one seven and two eights on his card in an horrific second round of 84? Or Sergio Garcia, who’s supposed to be quite good at this links golf lark but who completed two rounds at Royal County Down in an aggregate total of 154?

Then there was the American Jonathan Moore, who was so looking forward to returning to this special corner of the world after he holed the winning putt here for America against Britain and Ireland in the 2007 Walker Cup.

Irishman Rory McIlroy cuts a frustrated figure as he missed the cut during the Irish Open on Friday

McIlroy’s compatriot Padraig Harrington had hoped an Irish player would lift the trophy on Sunday

Harrington is now just a single shot off the leading pack following a round of 73 on Friday

How he must have wished he was playing matchplay golf yesterday as he ran up a 13 — yes, a 13 — on, appropriately enough, the par four 13th. Needless to say, it was the highest score on a single hole by any player on the European Tour this year.

And what of the host, who had his own problems on Thursday when he opened with an 80? What would happen this time, with the weather another stark contrast of warm sunshine punctuated by showers of unnerving violence?

Well, after three days of Rory the world-class fundraiser — it is hoped £1.5 million will be raised this week for the Rory Foundation, which is making a real difference in these parts to the lives of families of children suffering from cancer — the crowd finally got a glimpse of Rory the world-class golfer.

At 2.51pm, glory be, he got a putt to drop at the eighth. It was his first birdie of the championship and the roar that went up… well, Opens have been won with less acclaim.

A par at the ninth meant he had played the more stringent outward half in a commendable 34 shots.

Having started the day in 150th place, this was proving a captivating contest to see if he could finish inside the top 65 and make it through to the weekend.

Two more birdies were needed and the last two holes offered opportunities.

McIlroy, alas, stumbled before he got there, with an untidy double bogey at the 15th. He was back to 106th — and out. He finished with a 71.

It was the third year in a row he has missed the cut in this event and the second tournament in as many weeks in the UK. Next stop: the US Open next month. He’ll probably win that one.

McIlroy looks dejected after missing his putt on the ninth hole on the first day of the Irish Open

Hundreds of fans flock to fifth green to witness the action in the picturesque Northern Irish setting

‘I thought level par was a pretty good score today but I left myself with too much to do,’ reflected the world No 1.

‘I’m probably more disappointed for all the fans who showed up than myself and the fact I won’t be around at the weekend again.’

Amid all the struggles, there was some remarkable golf played by the hardy.

Young Englishman Tyrrell Hatton shot an amazing 66 to be one of five players tied for the lead, alongside in-form countryman Chris Wood, Scot Richie Ramsay, Dane Soren Kjeldsen and Austrian Bernd Wiesberger.

One shot back are Luke Donald and Ireland’s three-time major champion Padraig Harrington.