Rory McIlroy rockets into reckoning with 66 at Irish Open

Rory McIlroy is well placed for a tilt at a second Horizon Irish Open title after a superb 66 fired him into the top three at the K Club.

The 2016 winner began the weekend eight strokes off the lead but, on a day when the leaders stagnated, McIlroy struck seven birdies to leave himself with a glorious chance of his repeating his previous success at the Kildare venue.

At the close of play, the four-time major winner sits two strokes off the lead held by Germany's Hurly Long, who carded a two-under par 70 to reach 13-under par.

Overnight co-leader Jordan Smith battled to an underwhelming 73, after an unsightly double-bogey on the 7th, though he holds sole possession of second spot. McIlroy is one stroke further back in third.

McIlroy began Saturday with a birdie on the opening hole, adding another soon after on the par-5 fourth.

His 18ft birdie putt horse-shoed around the cup on the ninth, staying out. His chip for an eagle on the 10th likewise lipped out, though he was able to tidy up for a birdie.

In the groove now, McIlroy registered back to back birdies at the short 12th hole and the dog-legged 13th to reach 10-under. With overnight leaders Shubhankar Sharma and Jordan Smith going backwards, McIlroy was very definitely back in the tournament.

The 16th hole, scene of past glories for McIlroy, saw the only dropped stroke in his round, though it could have been so much worse.

FULL LEADERBOARD

With nearly all the players laying up on Friday, the organisers pushed the tee forward by 40 yards to tempt them into attacking the green, bringing the River Liffey into play.

McIlroy's long iron from the left rough whacked off the rocks adjacent to the green and wound up in the water. From the drop zone, he nearly repeated the error. The