Rory McIlroy brings some clarity to one of Luke Donald's most pressing dilemmas

Rory McIlroy is two shots behind the Irish Open leader. Photo: Getty Images/Richard Heathcote

Rory McIlroy looks determined to succeed Luke Donald's job will get easier ahead of the Ryder Cup later this month.

The European captain will not only be delighted that… The world number two allayed concerns about his recent back complaint on Saturday with a 66 at the K Club. it put him in contention at the Horizon Irish Open, but McIlroy also brought some clarity to one of Europe's captain's central dilemmas by declaring he would be willing to partner compatriot Shane Lowry in Rome.

McIlroy suffered muscle cramps during his last appearance, the Tour Championship in Atlanta two weeks ago, and arrived in Dublin admitting he had barely trained since and was «not fully recovered — I'm probably 90 per cent.»

But with a six-under effort that included birdies on the final two holes, McIlroy cut his eight-shot deficit early in the third round to two by Sunday's climax in his bid to win the national championship. opens for the second time at the famous Dublin venue.

«Last night I thought maybe I was too behind and out of my depth, but I played a really good round to get back into the game,» said McIlroy, an 11-under player.

Germany's Halry Long (70) leads the under-13 field, one ahead of England's Jordan Smith (73). Huge numbers of Irish spectators will turn out to cheer on McIlroy and Shane Lowry, who is eight under after a 72.

It was a fine effort from Lowry, especially after the controversy caused by his pattern selection on Monday. Donald should have picked the 2019 Open champion (only one in the top 10 all year) over Poland's Adrian Meronk, who has won three times in the last 16 months, including at Marco Simone, the site of the Ryder Cup, four months ago.

Donald is an unabashed admirer of Lowry's agility, short game and personality. And the 36-year-old's closeness to McIlroy, his former Irish amateur teammate, may also have been a factor in his selection.

McIlroy partnered Lowry in the last match and although they lost heavily to him in Friday's fourballs I would like to draw again with my childhood friend. Especially since McIlroy's other two recent teammates, Ian Poulter and Sergio Garcia, will be absent due to their suspensions stemming from the LIV Golf scandal.

«Absolutely, yes,» McIlroy told Golf Digest. “Poults and Sergio were passionate and full of energy… Having someone like that around you and knowing that he was going to do something at the right time; that something was always going to happen. I definitely feel that way with Shane.”