EAGLE EYED TO DOUBLE TROUBLE

Mcllroy's 16th joy is spoiled just a hole later

- DARRAGH CULHANE

THERE'S no good time to hit a double bogey but Rory Mcllroy certainly wished it wasn't straight after a memorable eagle on the 16th at the K Club yesterday.

On one of the warmest days of the year, the Ulsterman's game began to heat up on the back nine and culminated with holing out from 116 yards with a gap wedge.

"There's something about it," McIlroy said of the tough par five. "It was a lovely pin for a wedge shot as well with that backstop, just sort of cutting it in, using the slope to bring the ball back.

"It's always a bonus, a bit of luck when they go in the hole. But it was a lovely shot. I wish I had kicked on and played the last two a little bit better."

Fast forward 15 minutes and he hit his first double bogey in months, leaving a sour taste in his mouth.

"It was just one of those days where I tried to stay as patient as possible, Mcllroy said. "Everything was going well but I just got out of position on 17. I missed a short putt there.