Gavin Moynihan is driving his granny’s car this week but he came within a whisker of winning a €145,000 BMW i8 for an ace at the 12th. 

The rookie from The Island, 21, almost holed his seven iron at the 182-yard 12th 

He said: “I was up last, which was lucky because JB Hansen put it in water in front of me, so we took one more club to be sure. 

“I hit a nice draw in, pitched lovely and nearly went in. It ended up just two inches away, right behind the lip. It would have been nice.”

Moynihan is driving his granny’s ’98 Toyota Corolla as he doesn’t have his own car yet. 

But as he’s just seven behind Danny Willett and Marc Warren on one under, he’s in with a chance of big pay day after adding a 71 to his opening 72.

G-Mac’s a Red Devil

Graeme McDowell is hoping his lucky Manchester United marker will do the double today,

The Portrush ace has carried the same Red Devil ball-maker for over a decade and he hopes it will bring him luck so he can sit down to watch United take on Crystal Palace in today’s FA Cup final.

After a grinding 72 left him seven off the lead on eight under, G-Mac joked: “If i am not done by 5.30 something bad has happened.”

Pulling out his marker, he said: “Look at this. I’ve had it 10 years at least, I use it all the time. 

“I have won the uS Open with that thing there, it has been in the pocket for about 12 years that.”

Joking that in fact, he had “about 10 of them,” he added: “It’s like Trigger’s broom - had it for 20 years, five different heads and four handles.”

Sterne lesson for JR

Whitehead amateur John Ross Galbraith reckons his ball striking has to improve after adding a 76 to his opening 78.

He played alongside South African Richard Sterne, who fired a spectacular 68 to lie just four shots off the lead.

Galbraith said: “It’s good to learn from the top guys and I picked up some things along the way and have a new things to work on.

“I drive the ball as well any of the guys, putt as well as any of the guys and my iron play just needs to get more solid and consistent and I will not be far away.

“It was a great week for me playing with Richard Sterne. His ball-striking is the standard - he’s a class player.”

Hurley taking advantage

West Waterford’s Gary Hurley is taking advantage of his last gasp invitation after surviving a late wobble to remain in contention.

The former Walker Cup hero, 23, got the final invitation on Monday afternoon as he was heading into Maynooth for a haircut.

But after following a 73 with a 71 he’s determined to improve on 2014 at Fota Island when he shot 66 on Friday as an amateur to share 16th only to crash to weekend rounds of 81 and 73 for a share of 73rd.

He said: "I feel more comfortable out here. I was very tired on the Saturday morning and a couple of things went against me and my head went.

“Today I bogeyed 15 and doubled 16 but I was mentally stronger to hold on and keep hitting one shot at a time. 

“I’m not saying I’m going to shoot a better score that two years ago but I’m better prepared mentally, so hopefully I can go out there and do well.

“I was absolutely delighted they chose me for the last invitation and I’m happy I justified it by making the cut. 

“Hopefully I can have two more good rounds and shoot up the leaderboard.”