McIlroy shines in Rome; Lowry blasts golf's "disgusting" money obsession; Foley and McClean in semis

Fellow Irishmen Matthew McClean, left, and Hugh Foley celebrate winning their matches during the round of 32 at the 2022 U.S. Mid-Amateur at Erin Hills in Erin, Wis. on Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2022. (Steven Gibbons/USGA)

Rory McIlroy bounced back spectacularly from a slow start to trail Matt Fitzpatrick by a shot in the Italian Open in Rome.

While US Open champion Fitzpatrick raced into the solo lead on five under par with three holes to go when play was suspended due to fading light, McIlroy recovered from a one over par front nine by racing home in 30 for a four-under 67 that left him in an eight-way tie for second. Scores

The world number two holed out from 115 yards for an eagle two at the third (his 12th) before picking up further shots at the fifth, eighth and ninth at 2023 Ryder Cup venue Marco Simone Golf & Country Club.

Blaming his slow start on a late dinner with Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald and likely teammates, he joked: “I felt like I was still half-asleep playing that front nine. I think that eagle obviously ignited something and sort of kick-started my round a little bit. I played some really good golf on the way in.”

He added: “I think the way this golf course is designed, if we can set it up the right way, I think that sets us up to have the best chance possible.”

Jonathan Caldwell was tied 24th after a one-under 70 but Cormac Sharvin shot 73, Paul Dunne a 74 and Niall Kearney a 75 to leave them outside the projected cut line.

McIlroy finished tied second in the BMW PGA on Sunday behind close friend Shane Lowry who believes the "disgusting" amounts of money on offer in professional golf risks alienating fans.

Insisting he “never contemplated" joining LIV Golf, Lowry told the No Laying Up podcast he was "well looked after" for signing a three-year deal to play the Saudi International but insists he was never tempted by LIV.

"We are very lucky the corporate world loves golf and that's why we have such great sponsors and that's why we play for a lot of money, but I do feel like this is causing a division in the game and it's going to p*** people off,” Lowry said.

"People are going to stop watching it. I think the amounts of money that are being thrown around are absolutely disgusting at the minute. I feel all people talk about is money now.”

He added: “The general Joe Soap, the guy who works his nuts off to make 50 grand a year and has to struggle to pay his membership at his golf club and loves the game so much, this has probably p****** him off more than anyone and I think that's the wrong thing to do.”

In the Challenge Tour’s Open de Portugal, Conor Purcell was tied 16th at Royal Óbidos after a two-under 70, three shots behind Irish Challenge winner Todd Clements as Gavin Moynihan shot 71.

Ruaidhri McGee shot 73, Tom McKibbin and Gary Hurley 74 and John Murphy 75 to sit outside the cut line.

At the First Stage of the DP World Tour Q-School, Gary McGrane is six over after a third-round 72 at Arlandastad in Sweden, four shots outside the top 17 and ties who qualify with amateur Richard Knightly two shots further back after a 74.

Former footballer and reinstated amateur Stephen Grant shot 75 and Robin Dawson a level par 72 at Haugschlag in Austria to share 20th on level par at halfway, two shots outside the top 12 and ties.

Meanwhile, Hugh Foley and Matthew McClean last night made the semi-finals of the US Mid-Amateur Championship at Erin Hills in Wisconsin where the winner is awarded a spot in the US Open at The Los Angeles Country Club and a likely invitation into April’s Masters Tournament.

Foley beat Ryan Gutowski, 5 & 3 in the round of 16 and Chad Wilfong 2 up in the quarter-finals and now faces Minnesota’s Bryce Hanstad in the semifinals at 7 am local time. (1300 Irish time)

“We play a lot of [match play] back home. We have six major championships, [and off the] top of my head, three of them are this format, 36 [holes] a day,’” Foley said. “Now, the hills around here make it tougher on you physically, but I'm quite used to it. I've played something like 25 matches this year, 36 a day. It takes a lot of getting used to. Your feet start hurting, but you just keep going.”

McClean lost the 17th and 20th to pars in the last 16 to be taken to sudden death by Brad Nurski before winning on the 20th. In the quarter-finals, he beat Floridian Scott Turner 2&1 and now takes on Josh Persons from Frago, North Dakota in the semis at 7:15 am local time (1315 Irish time).

“I've spent a good bit of money in the pro shop already, with the shamrock [logo] and all that [merchandise],” McClean said. It would be unbelievable [to win], really.”

The first 18 holes of the 36-hole final will take place from 1830 Irish time with the second 18 scheduled for 7am local time on Saturday (1300 Irish time).

On the LPGA Tour, Leona Maguire opened with a three-over 75 in the Amazingcre Portland Classic to lie 10 shots behind Japan’s Ayako Uehara.

Uehara shot a seven-under 65 to lead by a shot from Australia’s Hannah Green as Maguire made four bogeys and a birdie, taking 36 putts.

American Justin Lower sho ta nine-under 63 to lead the Fortinet Championship in Napa in California, the first event of the 2022-23 PGA Tour season, by two shots from Max Homa when play was suspended due to darkness.