The Punter's In-Play Blog: Rory still nicely poised at the K Club

• Frenchman shows the way with 18 to play

• Swede could improve now out of the lead

• Read Dave Tindall's Ryder Cup guide here

19:20 - September 6, 2025

The 36-hole leader of the 70^th edition of the Irish Open, pre-event 230.0229/1 chance, Joakim Lagergren, failed to back up Friday's super-low round of 62 today but pre-tournament 180.0179/1 chance, Adrien Saddier, who led the European Masters by a stroke at halfway last week before shooting 73-71 to finish tied for 33^rd, performed far better on Moving Day today than he did in Switzerland and after an impressive four-under-par 68, he shows the way with just 18 to play.

Here's the latest state of play with prices to back at 19:10.

Adrien Saddier -15 2.77/4
Angel Hidalgo -14 5.24/1
Alfredo Garcia-Heredia -12 28.027/1
Rory McIlroy -11 4.03/1
Joakim Lagergren -11 22.021/1
-10 and 36.035/1 bar

After Lagergren's brilliance on Friday, it was Angel Hidalgo's turn to go low today.

Last year's Spanish Open winner, who was matched at 1000.0999/1 at the start of the week, shot a nine-under-par 63, despite double-bogeying the par five 16^th, to move up 15 places into solo second.

He plays with flair, and he was a quite brilliant winner in his homeland almost a year ago when defeating Jon Rahm in extra time, but Joackim showed us today just how hard it is to reboot and shoot a strong round after a tremendous knock. The Spaniard is odds-on to find it tough tomorrow and I'm happy to look elsewhere.

The leader looks short given his previous. As highlighted yesterday, he won the Italian Open in style at the end of June but his performance in Switzerland last week, and in Denmark three weeks ago, are a concern and he looks short enough at less than 7/42.75.

Alfredo Garcia-Heredia, who lost in a playoff at the European Masters almost exactly a year ago, did himself proud today, shooting a five-under-par 67, thanks largely to a pair of eagles, gets to play with Rory McIlroy again tomorrow, but it's hard to envisage him winning his first DP World Tour in such a big event at the age of  43.

I'm more than happy to stick with yesterday's pick, Rory McIlroy, who trades at the same price as he did after round two, but I will have an eye on Lagergren in-running.

Now out of the lead, the Swede should relax tomorrow and it wouldn't surprise me to see him put in a charge.

19:10 - September 5, 2025

After two rounds of the 70^th edition of the Irish Open, pre-event 230.0229/1 chance, Joakim Lagergren, shows the way after a stunning second round at the K Club.

Another long shot, pre-tournament 180.0179/1 chance, Adrien Saddier, who led the European Masters by a stroke at halfway last week, before shooting 73-71 to finish tied for 33^rd, looked the most likely candidate to lead at halfway and he was matched at as low 3.412/5 before a five-five finish took the gloss of his day but it's the home hero, Rory McIlroy, that heads the market with 36 holes to play.

Here's the latest state of play with prices to back at 19:00.

Joakim Lagergren -12 5.85/1
Adrien Saddier -11 5.85/1
Rory McIlroy -7 3.953/1
Thorbjorn Olesen -7 16.015/1
Daniel Hillier -7 38.037/1
Alfredo Garcia-Heredia -7 120.0119/1
Tyrrell Hatton -6 12.011/1
-6 and 44.043/1 bar

If he can post anything under-par tomorrow after today's ludicrously low round today, Joakim Lagergren is going to be in a nice position with 18 to play and he makes far more appeal than Saddier.

In addition to his collapse last weekend in Switzerland, the Frenchman fell from fourth to 24^th at the Danish Golf Championship in his penultimate start three weeks ago so although he won the Italian Open in style at the end of June, he's far from a safe conveyance in-the-mix.

Lagergren won the Irish Challenge on the HotelPlanner Tour last August and the Northern Ireland Open Challenge back in 2014 having led by a stroke at halfway and on the only other occasion he's held a clear advantage after 36 holes, at this year's KLM Open, he finished second, so he has a decent record when leading and he's a fair price at around 5/16.00 but there's no doubt whatsoever who's the man to beat over the weekend...

Having won here at the K Club back in 2016, Rory McIlroy has traded at odds-on in each of the last two editions of the Irish Open, here in 2023 and at Royal County Down last year, and he's very much the man to beat now.

Sitting on -6, six off the lead and just one behind Rory, Tyrrell Hatton is a big danger but I'm happy to back McIlroy at halfway at 3/14.00.

McIlroy finished the day off in style today, with this brilliant approach to the par five 16^th which probably should have led to an eagle three, but the poor putt at the last has kept his price respectable and with just two long shots ahead of him, he looks worth chancing.

I'll be back tomorrow night or first thing on Sunday morning with a look at the state of play with a round to go.

Now read more Golf tips and previews here.