01로리, 홈 팬들 앞에서 '마법 같은 백나인'…4타 차 단독 선두로 최종일 맞이
아일랜드 골프의 영웅 쉐인 로리(39)가 자국에서 열리는 DP월드투어 아멘 아일랜드 오픈(총상금 600만 달러) 3라운드에서 압도적인 경기력을 선보이며 우승에 바짝 다가섰다. 로리는 11일(한국시간) 아일랜드 두니벡의 트럼프 인터내셔널 골프 링크스 앤 호텔(파72·7,200야드)에서 열린 대회 3라운드에서 버디 6개, 보기 1개로 5언더파 65타를 적어내며 중간합계 16언더파 200타로 단독 선두에 올랐다. 2위 제이콥 스코브 올레센(덴마크·12언더파)과는 4타 차다.
이날 경기는 드라마틱한 흐름이었다. 로리는 3타 차 단독 선두로 출발했으나, 동반 플레이어였던 올레센이 전반 9홀에서 이글 1개와 버디 3개를 몰아치며 13언더파로 로리와 동타를 이뤘다. 하지만 후반 들어 로리가 진짜 실력을 발휘했다. 10번 홀(파4) 4피트 버디로 다시 앞서간 로리는 11번 홀에서 8피트 파 세이브, 12번 홀(파4) 러프에서 9피트 버디, 15번 홀(파4) 4피트 버디로 차이를 벌렸다. 특히 16~18번 홀에서 세 번 연속 '결정적인 파 세이브'를 해내며 4타 차 리드를 지켰다.
로리는 이날 백나인에서만 9개의 싱글 퍼트를 성공시키는 퍼팅 감각을 과시했다. 그는 경기 후 "평소엔 남들이 그런 퍼트를 넣는 걸 구경만 했는데, 오늘은 내가 그 주인공이었다"며 미소 지었다. 2009년 이 대회에서 아마추어 신분으로 우승했던 로리는 17년 만에 자국 대회 두 번째 우승을 노린다. 관중들은 로리의 홀마다 환호와 박수를 보냈고, 도널드 트럼프 전 미국 대통령도 갤러리로 자리해 경기를 지켜봤다.
최종 라운드를 앞둔 로리는 "홈 팬들 앞에서 최종 조로 챔피언조에서 플레이하는 건 특별한 경험"이라며 "오늘처럼 내 경기에 집중하면서 즐기겠다"고 각오를 밝혔다. 추격 그룹에서는 호아킨 니만(칠레)이 9언더파 3위로 7타 차 뒤져 있어, 로리의 우승 가능성이 매우 높은 상황이다.
02Original (English) — DP World Tour
Shane Lowry will take a four-shot lead into the final round after wowing the crowds with another spectacular performance on day three of the Amgen Irish Open to put himself in pole position to win his home event for a second time.
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Lowry started the day three strokes ahead but was caught at the summit by playing partner Jacob Skov Olesen as they reached the turn at Trump International Golf Links & Hotel, Doonbeg, Ireland.
But, roared on by bumper crowds, the Irish Ryder Cup star caught fire on the back nine, combining birdie putts with a series of clutch par saves to go four clear at the summit and reach 16 under par with a 65 that contained six birdies and a single bogey.
Olesen was Lowry's nearest challenger on 12 under after carding an eagle and three birdies on the front nine before making eight straight pars and a closing bogey.
With US President Donald Trump watching on, Lowry and Jacob Skov Olesen opened up a big gap between themselves and the chasing pack, with their next closest competitor Joaquin Niemann on nine under.
Lowry extended his lead to four shots with a superb birdie putt from 31 feet at the first on Saturday before having to settle for pars on the second and third, after creating further good chances in a confident start to the round.
A two-putt birdie on the fourth was followed by his first bogey of the day at the fifth and despite picking up a shot at the eighth, heroics from Olesen meant the pair were tied at the top on 13 under as they got to the turn.
But Lowry was soon back in front courtesy of a four-foot birdie on the tenth and he made a vital par save from eighth feet at the next to stay ahead.
He produced more magic on the 12th as he sent his approach from the rough to nine feet before rolling in the birdie effort to move two clear on 15 under.
Successive par saves followed on the 13th and 14th before a four-foot birdie at the 15th stretched his lead to three.
And he produced three more outstanding saves at the 16th, 17th and 18th to take a four-shot lead into the last round.
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The 39‑year‑old, who famously won this event as an amateur in 2009, said: "Any time you play links golf in 15, 20-mile-an-hour winds - and it got a little cold at the end there - it's going to be hard and you're going to have some testers for pars.
"I felt like I did a great job today of just staying in the moment and playing my own game.
"I had so much fun out there on the back nine. The crowds were incredible. They cheered me on the whole way home and hopefully will do the same tomorrow.
"I'm looking forward to tomorrow. Final group, leading my home tournament, it's a nice place to be and, yeah, it should be fun."
Speaking about making nine single putts on the back nine, he added: "I'm normally the one watching other people do it, so why not me sometimes? It's nice to know I'm seeing my lines well and starting the ball where I want and they're going in and hopefully that stays that way for another 24 hours."
Report
Joaquin Niemann produced a late birdie burst to card a 65 and lead the way after day one of the Amgen Irish Open.