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 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)
DENVER (AP) — Hunter Goodman and Ezequiel Tovar hit home runs, Ryan Feltner pitched into the seventh inning for his first victory at Coors Field in two years, and the Colorado Rockies beat Arizona 8-2 on Tuesday night, dealing a setback to the Diamondbacks' playoff hopes.
Tovar, who homered in Monday’s 3-2 win over Arizona, finished with three hits and drove in two runs. Goodman also homered Monday and connected for his 13th of the season off Blake Walston in the seventh.
Jacob Stallings and Jordan Beck hit run-scoring doubles and Brenton Doyle added a sacrifice fly for the Rockies. Bud Black also recorded his 535th win as Rockies manager, the most in franchise history, one more than Clint Hurdle.
“That's super special,” Doyle said of Black, who was doused with shaving cream and beer during a post-game celebration in the clubhouse with his players. “I'm sure he's pumped about it. It's a huge accomplishment for him and a huge accomplishment for the Rockies.”
Christian Walker homered and Pavin Smith had two doubles and scored a run for Arizona, which dropped into a tie with the New York Mets for the last two NL wild-card spots. San Diego holds the top spot. The Diamondbacks will try to avert the series sweep when they play the Rockies in Wednesday's finale.
“We’re hitting a little bit of a rut right now,” Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said. “We’ll find our way out of it. We’ve got to do what we do best, be versatile, be focused and play our best game tomorrow. We can’t go backwards and dwell on what’s happened. We’ve got to go 1-0, day game after a night game in Colorado. That’s all I’m focused on right now.”
Feltner (3-10) allowed one run on five hits in 6 2/3 innings for his first win at Coors Field since Aug. 9, 2022, snapping a franchise-record string of 21 straight starts without a winning decision at home.
“I was on the same page with (catcher Jacob Stallings) all night,” Feltner said. “We had great defense, so just being able to trust Stallings back there and trust the defense as well just frees me up big time. All my pitches were working and I just tried to keep pounding the zone."
Jordan Montgomery (8-7), making his first start since Aug. 21, returned to Arizona's rotation from the bullpen to help fill in for injured starter Ryne Nelson, who was placed on the 15-day injured list over the weekend with right shoulder inflammation.
Montgomery went 4 2/3 innings and allowed three runs on six hits.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Diamondbacks: OF Lourdes Gurriel Jr. is ramping up conditioning and baseball activities at the team’s Arizona training facility as he works toward returning from a left calf injury that has sidelined him since Sept. 2. “Gurriel had four at bats. Came out of that good,” manager Torrey Lovullo said. “Those were live AB’s. And he did some real aggressive baserunning and some outfield work. Tomorrow, he’ll play in an official continuation game.”
Rockies: RHP Antonio Senzatela is doing well physically the day after making his first start Monday in 16 months following rehab from reconstructive right elbow surgery. Senzatela allowed two runs and four hits in three-plus innings. Manager Bud Black said Senzatela was scheduled to start again on Sunday at the Los Angeles Dodgers.
UP NEXT
LHP Eduardo Rodríguez (2-3, 5.50 ERA) is set to start Wednesday for the Diamondbacks against Rockies's LHP Austin Gomber (5-10, 4.44 ERA).
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
Colorado Rockies' Brendan Rodgers follows the flight of his RBI single in the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Colorado Rockies relief pitcher Angel Chivilli gestures after getting Arizona Diamondbacks' Corbin Carroll to pop out to end a baseball game, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Arizona Diamondbacks pitching coach Brent Strom, center, confers with relief pitcher Blake Walston as catcher Jose Herrera looks on after Walston gave up an RBI single to Colorado Rockies' Brendan Rodgers in the eighth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Colorado Rockies' Hunter Goodman gestures as he crosses home plate after hitting a solo home run off Arizona Diamondbacks relief pitcher Blake Walston in the seventh inning of a baseball game Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Arizona Diamondbacks' Corbin Carroll pops out against Colorado Rockies relief pitcher Angel Chivilli to end a baseball game Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Colorado Rockies relief pitcher Angel Chivilli works against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the ninth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Arizona Diamondbacks third base coach Tony Perezchica, left, congratulates Christian Walker as he circles the bases after hitting a solo home urn off Colorado Rockies relief pitcher Jaden Hill in the eighth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Colorado Rockies' Ezequiel Tovar singles off Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Jordan Montgomery in the fifth inning of a baseball game ,Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Colorado Rockies' Hunter Goodman follows the flight of his solo home run off Arizona Diamondbacks relief pitcher Blake Walston in the seventh inning of a baseball game Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
