More benign conditions welcomed the players onto Carton House during the third round of the Irish Open, and low scores were the result. The temperature was higher, and the breeze was weaker than it had been in recent days, and the field largely took advantage of the more pleasant setting. At the end of a thrilling Saturday, 11 players are all within five shots of the lead, with Joost Luiten at the summit at 13-under-par.
The 27-year-old from the Netherlands, Luiten, shot an immaculate bogey free round of 66, to take a one-shot-lead into the final round. It has been quite a run of form from the Dutchman, who is looking for his second victory on the European Tour within a month.
Luiten, who won the Lyoness Open in Austria a mere three weeks ago, reflected on the challenge of the Carton House layout:
“It's a tough one, I think off the tee you have to make sure that you stay out of the fairway bunkers, I think that's really important, if you want to play well on this course, you have to stay out of the fairway traps, because they are really deep. I haven't been in any fairway bunkers at all this week. That's the game plan. Sometimes it's better to hit it way off-line and to miss the bunkers than just off-line in the bunker, and from there you just have to hit the greens. Yeah, I think that's what I've done pretty good, hit a lot of greens, and if I missed them, I missed them in the right places, so I gave myself some nice up-and-downs from relatively easy spots.”
Luiten, who turned professional in 2006, saw his promising early career undermined by injury problems in 2009, which took him out of the Tour for almost a year. But he returned the following season, and finished the season 28th on the Race to Dubai. Such a comeback is testament to Luiten’s determination and competitive desire, that presents itself through an aggressive and entertaining attitude on the course.
However, before his win in Austria earlier this month, it hadn’t been the happiest period for Luiten on the course, and he reflected on what has brought about this profitable run of form:
“Well, I've been working on the swing for a long time. I've been fully fit now for a long time, as well. I had some little issues [shoulder injury] that I couldn't practise that much, and the last two or three months, I could practise a lot more, and that will help you, as well, and I think that's really important that I can make my hours on the practise range again and I think that really paid off.”
It certainly has paid off for Luiten, who will partner equally passionate Pablo Larrazabal in the final round.
The 30-year-old Spaniard, who is currently 34th in the Race to Dubai rankings, also compiled a third round of 66. And it is a round that leaves him just one back of the Dutchman.
Larrazabal, an instinctive momentum player on the course, thrives on the interaction with spectators, and he reflected on the huge crowds in Kildare this week, particularly at the 17th.
“I've never seen something like on 17. It's lovely to play with this atmosphere. I've never played in Scottsdale [16th hole at the Phoenix Open], and that's as close as we can get in Europe. That 17th green is an amazing experience, and they were cheering for me, so I love it. “
Grandstands that can accommodate a mass of fans, who have thus far provided a friendly but enthusiastic atmosphere to the tournament, have surrounded the 17th green. It’s an initiative that has been popular with the players, particularly Larrazabal, who has put himself into strong positions this season, but hasn’t yet been able to finish the job on Sunday.
Larrazabal, when asked what need to change, self-effacingly answered: “Finish the tournament on Saturday it looks like”. However, the two-time winner on Tour did analyse the state of his game at the moment: “I've been playing good. You know, the last month, I didn't play as good as the three months before, so I feel that I'm hitting the ball good, and I have to fight for the tournament. I hope tomorrow I can hit the ball as good as these days and hole as many putts.”
Winning a tournament on the British Isles would be a welcome achievement for the Spaniard, who embraces the passion of the large and knowledgeable galleries:
“As always, I said I love to play in Scotland, in England, in Ireland, in Wales, they are the best crowds in the world. So, you know, when there are crowds like this and you're playing well, you are really enjoying this game and this job.”
All eyes will be on Luiten and Larrazabal, but a talented chasing pack is within striking distance. Robert Rock is a shot further back at 10-under, while Paul Casey, who is now beginning to find his best form once again, is at 9-under alongside Scott Henry of Scotland. With a total of 11 players within five shots of the lead, and a strengthening breeze forecast, Sunday is sure to be compelling.
Incredibly, if Luiten does win tomorrow, he will become the first Dutch player to win three events on the European Tour. His success on the Tour has made him a recognised figure amongst Dutch golfers:
“I'm more famous as a golfer, when I go to the golf course, people recognise me, but when I'm in the city or anywhere else, nobody will recognise me. So only the people that play golf, they know me, and outside, it's pretty quiet. So I quite enjoy it actually.”
Well, if he wins tomorrow, even more people in his homeland will start to recognise him.