ITALIAN OPEN

September 17, 2022

Rory McIlroy

Marco Simone Golf & Country Club

Quick Quotes

Q. Level par today, just the one shot back away from the lead. Can you give us an assessment of the day?

RORY McILROY: Yeah, felt like I played okay. You know, every birdie I made, I followed it with a bogey, so that was not good. But just when the wind got up there when we turned, I struggled with the putter all day but I think especially when the wind got up, I struggled just to sort of commit to reads, and do I play the wind, do I not play the wind. I held a couple of nice ones coming in but missed a lot of opportunities there at sort of the start of the middle of the round.

Sort of thankfully I'm still in it. Still only one shot back. I think I'll be in the final group tomorrow. So that was a big putt on 18 to hole so I can keep an eye on Fitz and what he's doing.

Q. Was there a stand-out moment in your round where it felt really important to make?

RORY McILROY: The par putt on 15 maybe. Yeah, I mean, I missed the green with a lob-wedge in my hand after hitting a good tee shot. I really would have been kicking myself if I didn't save par there, at least.

The two birdies on 16 and 18 were big, too. Taking advantage of the easier holes out here is important. And again, I think as I said, that birdie on 18, just to get myself in the final group was big.

Q. Got some European greats who have been The Italian Open, Lyle, Langer, Sam Torrance, Jacklin. What would it mean to you to win at the next Ryder Cup venue?

RORY McILROY: Yeah, I think National Opens are pretty important things in our game. I've been quite fortunate that I've won a few of them. This would be another great one to add to the list. So big incentive tomorrow to go out and play well.

I know it will be a tough day. Fit is very solid. These are the sort of conditions that he relishes. He's going to be tough to beat.

Q. Difficult day or your game was not solid today?

RORY McILROY: I think a little bit of both. It was a more difficult day today, definitely. But I didn't -- I hit the ball okay. I hit the ball pretty well but I just didn't hole all the putts that I needed to. I certainly didn't hole the putts that I held the first couple of days.

So yeah, the wind was up, and I thought that -- I thought that makes it pretty hard to putt and to judge how much break to play and the speed of the putts. So you know, hopefully it's a little bit better tomorrow and you can see a few more birdies.

Q. What happened with the bogey?

RORY McILROY: A bad three-putt. I hit the first putt too hard and the second part just got a big gust of wind. So yeah, these are the sort of things we have to contend with when the conditions are like this.

Q. Did you like the (drivable) fifth hole?

RORY McILROY: Yeah, I did, I thought it was good. It was different. I think it makes the hole exciting. Obviously we already have two drivable par 4s on this course, and to have a third, I think it's good. It gives you a decision to make on the tee, whether to go for it or not, and you know, it's a good risk/reward hole, yeah.

Q. Good for Ryder Cup?

RORY McILROY: Good for Ryder Cup. I think having a hole like that pretty early in the day is good.