Rory McIlroy Moves Closer To Third R2D Title & Then Predicts Great Career For Tour Rookie Paul Dunne.

Four-time Major winning Rory McIlroy moved closer to a third Race to Dubai title in four years and then predicted Ireland’s exciting new Tour star Paul Dunne will have no concerns retaining his Tour card after his success earlier this week at the Tour School.

McIlroy has never met Dunne but was full of praise for the 22-year old Dubliner who will make his full European Tour member debut in next week’s Euro 1.5m Alfred Dunhill Championship in South Africa, and in the first event of the 2016 Race to Dubai schedule.

“It’s a tremendous effort on Paul’s part and backing up such a great performance at The Open in July after also having to deal with all these high expectations placed on his shoulders, and to go into Tour School and have to play six rounds and get the job done is very impressive,” said McIlroy.

“So it’s great to see and there’s no reason now with a full season ahead of him, and unlike the handful of invitations he had just recently to get his Tour card, that he can’t go on and set the foundations for a long career out here.

“The thing is I don’t know Paul so I haven’t met him but from what I have seen of him on TV he looks very impressive and it’s great to have another good Irish player out here on the Tour.

BBC's 5-Live Iain Carter speaking with Rory McIlroy post second round.

BBC’s 5-Live Iain Carter speaking with Rory McIlroy post second round and with Tour media officer Michael Gibbons looking on.

McIlroy was speaking after posting a second straight 68 to move to a share of fourth place at eight under par.

England’s Andy Sullivan birdied his last in a round of 66 to steal a one shot lead in the £5.2m event at 12-under par ahead of Argentina’s Emiliano Grillo who shot a 64.

In the bigger Race to Dubai picture McIlroy is two shots ahead of England rival Danny Willett who posted a 70 for a six under par tally

“I am only four behind Andy and will continue to go about my business and while I am not performing at the highest level as I would like to, I do feel my putting in getting better,” said McIlroy.

“It’s all a matter of being a little more efficient and taking advantage of the putter. I know there’s a low one in the bag and there’s no doubting how comfortable I am on this course as my record shows.

“And I would have to play a lot worse than I have so far this week not to move in the right direction.”

And McIlroy was determined a young child got his golf ball as he walked from the course in clearly singing out ‘No’ when a middle-aged woman wanted to keep the prize Nike ball.

Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry both speak highly of new European Tour member Paul Dunne. (Photo - www.golffile.ie)

Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry both speak highly of new European Tour member Paul Dunne. (Photo – www.golffile.ie)

Shane Lowry birdied the last in a score of 70 to get back to one under par.

“It was an okay day given the course is playing pretty easy, as I made a few mistakes out there so really it was another frustrating day out there,” he said.

“I did feel a lot more comfortable on the greens but it was like I couldn’t get out of my own way so if it’s not one thing, it’s another and hopefully it will all come together over the weekend.

“My goal today was to shoot a 68 and get it back under par but I am just not playing well enough to be shooting real low.”

Lowry entered the season-ending event lying fourth on the Race to Dubai just trailing behind Justin Rose and also just in front of South African Louis Oosthuizen.

Rose posted a 66 to be sharing seventh place on seven under par while Oosthuizen is back in a share of 28th spot at three under par but four clear of Lowry.

“I am looking each day what Justin and Louis are doing so it’s up to me to finish ahead of Louis and also maybe get back Justin,” said Lowry.

And like McIlroy, Lowry is delighted Dunne has earned his European Tour card.

“I sent Paul a congratulatory text last night so I am really please for him and very much looking forward to welcoming him out here as a full Tour member,” said Lowry.



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