European Tour Duty Free Irish Open leaderboard https://www.europeantour.com/en/europeantour/tournaments/2017/dubai-duty-free-irish-open-hosted-by-the-rory-foundation/#leaderboard
After Saturday's blinding sunshine at Portstewart GC, the beautiful links hard by the Irish Sea, the more traditional overcast skies with the accompanying rain showers has arrived overnight.
The winds however are what locals consider a breeze, and ask any pro, rain is ok, but the wind is their main weather concern. Whatever, the course should get a little longer and the greens a little slower and softer which mean the guys could get more aggressive with their approaches.
The leaders at -17 are American Daniel Im who has had part of the lead all week, and Spain's next super star big Jon Rahm who is looking to add his name to other Spanish greats like Seve (3) and Jose Maria Olazabal and Sergio who have won this Irish national championship.
Young Frenchman Ben Hebert is at -16, Japan's Hideto Tanihara has moved up to -15 with another Frenchman Julien Quesne at -14. There are four players at -13 including Justin Rose who I would pick to be the one who is more than capable to make a challenge from the pack.
For my money Rahm is the favourite, he has gotten much better at controlling his temper, and is longer and more talented than any of his nearest pursuers with the exception of Olympic champion and US Open winner Rose.
Rahm is in the last pairing, so also has the advantage of seeing what those in front of him are doing.
The Irish fans have stood in the pouring rain to watch this tournament many a time including a torrential soaking when Shane Lowry won as an amateur in 2009 at County Louth. They are scheduled to get wet again today, however I expect Jon Rahm to provide a ray of Spanish sunshine come dinner time tonight !
Bryan Angus
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