The Fisher King: Ross on top in Ireland
Ross Fisher shot an outstanding 10-under-par 61 at Killarney Golf & Fishing Club today, only missing out on a European Tour record 59 when he failed to break par on any of his last four holes - though he had still done enough to take a comfortable lead in the second round of the 3 Irish Open.
The Englishman enhanced his Ryder Cup credentials after carding a string of six birdies on the front nine, and then picking up a further four on the back. That inspired day's play saw him jump 32 places up the leaderboard to take the clubhouse lead.
Fisher is currently four strokes ahead of Italy's Francesco Molinari, currently four-under today, eight-under in total, though he is yet to complete his round and appears to be stalling a wee bit. All of his six birdies came on the front nine, three on the opening three holes, and the 27-year-old has so far hit two bogeys on the back nine, having played as far as the 17th.
No fewer than eight players are currently tied for third place on seven-under, among them Ireland's Padraig Harrington, who carded five birdies and a bogey to remain in contention today, and Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy, who briefly tied with Molinari for second place before bogeying the 17th.
England's Chris Wood, and Ireland's Paul McGinley are six-under, while Damien McGrane is five-under, together with Northern Ireland's Darren Clarke. Last year's winner Shane Lowry was three-under, having shot a fine round of six-under today.
But Graeme McDowell doesn't look like the same player who won the US Open less than two months ago, the Northern Irishman shooting four bogeys as well as three birdies to come home one-over today, level par for the tournament.
Justin Rose looks to have at least avoided the cut; he shot three-over yesterday, but made up that deficit with four birdies and a bogey today, though with three holes left to play there's still time for the Englishman to improve (or deteriorate). And Italy's Matteo Manassero also looks to have made the cut despite his one-over yesterday - the 17-year-old is one-under today, level for the tournament after three birdies and a pair of bogeys.
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