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Manassero handles cold and wind for Irish Open lead and McIlroy is 2 behind

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Manassero handles cold and wind for Irish Open lead and McIlroy is 2 behind
News

News

Manassero handles cold and wind for Irish Open lead and McIlroy is 2 behind

2024-09-14 02:45 Last Updated At:02:51

NEWCASTLE, Northern Ireland (AP) — Matteo Manassero handled the brunt of the afternoon cold and wind and made two eagles on his way to a 5-under 66 for a one-shot lead in the Irish Open on Friday.

Home favorite Rory McIlroy caught a break in the weather in the morning and failed to capitalize as much as he would have liked. He started on the back nine at Royal County Down in moderate conditions, failed to birdie the par 5s and had a 70 to finish two shots behind.

Temperatures dropped severely in the afternoon and players were wearing hand warmers to cope with the cold. Manassero opened with an 8-foot eagle putt, and the Italian recorded another eagle with an iron to 2 feet on the par-5 12th.

It was a struggle coming in with the wind, and he twice escaped trouble to make par.

Manassero, who won this year in South Africa on the European tour, was at 6-under 136. He was one shot ahead of Todd Clements (71) and Laurie Canter (68). McIlroy was tied with Ewen Ferguson of Scotland (69) and Alejandro Del Rey of Spain (71).

Another shot behind was Daniel Brown, who was tied for the lead until getting caught in the thick grass and native areas at Royal County Down, taking a triple bogey on his final hole at the par-4 ninth and wiping out a good day of work. He wound up with a 1-under 70.

McIlroy, who grew up about 40 miles (60 kilometers) to the north in Holywood, was satisfied with his position going into the weekend, yet still disappointed he didn't do more considering the more favorable conditions for slightly more than half of his second round.

“I felt like the course was there a little bit for the taking this morning,” he said. “We started on the back nine, too. So we had the two par 5s and the drivable par 4s, so to only play the back nine in even par, I was a little disappointed.”

He hit into a pot bunker on the 12th and missed the fairway on the 18th, both times having to lay up on the par 5s. But he made the turn and hit 8-iron to 15 feet for eagle.

“I played pretty solid on the way in,” he said. “Felt like I left a couple of shots out there but, you know, still in a good position.”

Plus, it was better than his last Irish Open at Royal County Down in 2015, when he opened with an 80 and missed the cut.

“Much better than nine years ago when I was watching the third round on TV,” McIlroy said. “Happy to be here for the weekend and happy to give myself a chance.”

AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf

Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy reacts on the green during day two of the Amgen Irish Open 2024 at Royal County Down in Newcastle, County Down, Ireland, Friday Sept. 13, 2024. (Liam McBurney/PA via AP)

Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy reacts on the green during day two of the Amgen Irish Open 2024 at Royal County Down in Newcastle, County Down, Ireland, Friday Sept. 13, 2024. (Liam McBurney/PA via AP)

Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy putting during day two of the Amgen Irish Open 2024 at Royal County Down in Newcastle, County Down, Ireland, Friday Sept. 13, 2024. (Liam McBurney/PA via AP)

Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy putting during day two of the Amgen Irish Open 2024 at Royal County Down in Newcastle, County Down, Ireland, Friday Sept. 13, 2024. (Liam McBurney/PA via AP)

Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy on the 5th fairway during day two of the Amgen Irish Open 2024 at Royal County Down in Newcastle, County Down, Ireland, Friday Sept. 13, 2024. (Liam McBurney/PA via AP)

Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy on the 5th fairway during day two of the Amgen Irish Open 2024 at Royal County Down in Newcastle, County Down, Ireland, Friday Sept. 13, 2024. (Liam McBurney/PA via AP)

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A$AP Rocky turned down a final prosecution plea offer of 180 days in jail, risking the possibility of a guilty verdict and years in prison as jury selection began at his trial on Tuesday.

The agreement offered to the 36-year-old hip-hop star, fashion mogul and actor was to plead guilty to one of two felony counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm. Los Angeles County prosecutors would also recommend a seven-year suspended sentence, three years of probation and the six-month jail term.

But Rocky, whose legal name is Rakim Mayers, told a judge he respectfully declined.

He is accused of firing at a former friend near a Hollywood hotel in 2021, and could get a maximum sentence of 24 years in prison if convicted. He has pleaded not guilty.

Rocky's attorney Joe Tacopina also revealed for the first time in court Tuesday that the defense plans to call witnesses to testify that a firearm seen on a security video is a starter pistol that Rocky carried as a prop for security.

A panel of more than 100 prospective jurors were summoned to the downtown Los Angeles courtroom and packed into the gallery. Opening statements will come once 12 of them and alternates are seated. That won't be until at least Wednesday, when selection is set to resume. Cameras will be allowed in the courtroom starting with openings.

The Grammy-nominated hip-hop star's longtime partner is Rihanna, and the couple have two toddler sons together. Tacopina suggested that it's unlikely the pop star will show up in court.

Rocky has been named one of the celebrity chairs of the Met Gala in May, and has a major role in a Spike Lee-directed film with Denzel Washington to be released soon after. But his life could be upended with a conviction.

Superior Court Judge Mark Arnold has said he hopes to seat a jury quickly, and is keeping strict limits on how long attorneys can question prospective jurors.

“Mr. Mayers is an entertainer," Arnold told the prospective jurors. "His stage name is A$AP rocky. His life partner is also an entertainer. Her name is Rihanna. Because Mr. Mayers is an entertainer, a celebrity, that cannot harm him, and it cannot benefit him."

Of the initial 12 jurors questioned, four said they knew who Rocky was, and 10 said they knew who Rihanna was.

In 2023, another judge ruled after a preliminary hearing that Rocky should stand trial on charges that he fired a gun at Terell Ephron, a childhood friend who testified that their relationship had soured and a feud came to a head on the night of Nov. 6, 2021. Ephron testified that bullets grazed his knuckles.

Initial questioning on Tuesday revealed that the recent Los Angeles-area wildfires have affected many of the potential jurors' lives, including one woman who is fostering many displaced animals, and at least one man who had to evacuate. The judge himself revealed he had to evacuate from his home for 11 days.

“Luckily the house didn’t burn down," Arnold said.

One man was excused early in the process because he said his anti-gun feelings were too strong for him to be fair.

Tacopina tried to explore the potential jurors' feelings about hip-hop artists and their music, and several said they had negative feelings, though not overwhelming ones. Some cited parenting as the reason.

“I used to love it but then I had a kid,” one panelist said.

Deputy District Attorney John Lewin, questioning for the prosecution, told those with negative feelings, “You will not be called upon to render a verdict on how you feel about rap music, do you understand that?" All said yes.

Tacopina, who like his client Rocky is from New York and has represented President Donald Trump, also asked whether anyone on the jury is rubbed the wrong way by New Yorkers, bringing laughs throughout the room.

“When I get up here with this ridiculous accent, which I try not to have but I do, is anyone going to have a problem?" he said. “I will point out that we gave you guys the Dodgers a few years ago.”

No one conceded any negative feelings.

“I love LA," the lawyer added.

FILE - A$AP Rocky, left, and Rihanna attend The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute benefit gala in New York on Sept. 13, 2021. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File)

FILE - A$AP Rocky, left, and Rihanna attend The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute benefit gala in New York on Sept. 13, 2021. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File)

FILE - Rapper A$AP Rocky at Pre-Grammy Gala And Salute To Industry Icons in Beverly Hills, Calif., on Feb. 9, 2019. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP, File)

FILE - Rapper A$AP Rocky at Pre-Grammy Gala And Salute To Industry Icons in Beverly Hills, Calif., on Feb. 9, 2019. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP, File)

FILE - Rapper A$AP Rocky appears in a Los Angeles Superior courtroom on Aug. 17, 2022, where he pleaded not guilty to two felony counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm. (Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times via AP, Pool, File)

FILE - Rapper A$AP Rocky appears in a Los Angeles Superior courtroom on Aug. 17, 2022, where he pleaded not guilty to two felony counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm. (Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times via AP, Pool, File)

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