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Rory McIlroy buoyed by magnificent eagle at The Open Championship
Sitting seven shots off the lead at the halfway stage, Northern Irishman McIlroy needed to get off to a strong start at Royal Portrush on Saturday and he did just that, carding three birdies in his first four holes.
But, after a bizarre incident on the 11th when he hit out of the rough and dislodged a previously-buried ball, a bogey there threatened to end his challenge as leader Scottie Scheffler put his foot on the gas over on the front nine.
However, at a venue where he shot 61 as a 16-year-old and backed by huge galleries, Masters Champion McIlroy responded by trickling in a 56-foot putt – his longest of the week – at the 12th for an extraordinary eagle.
McIlroy, who birdied the 15th to head into Sunday on eight under par, enjoyed his magic moment on the 12th green, saying: "It's absolutely incredible out there, the atmosphere has been electric all day.
"Obviously the start was nice, birdieing three of the first four. But then as (his putt at the 12th) was going down the hill, it's probably one of the coolest moments I've ever had on a golf course.
"Just an absolute pleasure to play in front of my home crowd, my fans and I'm really just trying to hang in there and stay in it.
"Obviously the leaders are still a few shots in front but I played well enough today to at least feel like I have a chance going into tomorrow."
McIlroy knows he has a tough task ahead of him, with World Number One Scheffler so far in front of him.
He added: "Scottie Scheffler, he's inevitable. Even when he doesn't have his best stuff, he's become a complete player.
"He's so good around the greens, he's improved so much with his putter. It's going to be tough to catch him tomorrow if he keeps playing the way he does.
"But if I can get out tomorrow and get off to a similar start to what I did today and get the crowd going, hopefully he feels that a couple of groups behind me and you never know.
"I just need to go out and play another really good round of golf tomorrow and we'll see what happens."
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