Rory McIlroy makes a strong push towards winning the Irish Open at The K Club with a powerful final round of play.

The Amgen Irish Open at The K Club's Palmer North course is heating up, with several players making a strong push towards the lead.

Currently, Joakim Lagergren, a 32-year-old Swede, holds the top spot with a 36-hole total of 12-under-par 132. Lagergren, who has a history of winning on the Hotel Planner Tour, including victories in the Irish Challenge and the Northern Ireland Open, attributes his improved putting to the return of an old putter to his bag. His round on day two included an eagle on the 18th hole and a bogey on the penultimate hole, but he rebounded with a closing birdie on the ninth.

In second place, one stroke behind Lagerren, is Adrien Saddier. Rory McIlroy, the world number two, is close behind in third place, with a score of 137. McIlroy, who won the Irish Open at The K Club in 2016 when he was also the tournament host, made a significant move into contention with a round of 66. This impressive performance left him just one stroke behind Lagerren.

McIlroy's round was not without drama, as he saved par on the par 5 16th after his 5-wood approach found a watery grave in the Riverrey. Four Irish players, including McIlroy, Shane Lowry, Tom McKibbin, and Alex Maguire, survived the midway cut.

Lowry had a hole-out eagle from 89 yards on the 13th hole, and he intends to play catch-up with a low score on the final two rounds. McKibbin and Lowry are among the Irish challengers headed into the weekend.

Unfortunately, Seamus Power and Padraig Harrington failed to progress into the weekend of the Amgen Irish Open. Brooks Koepka also missed the cut, scoring 80.

The weather on the day remained predominantly dry with a testing wind, making for challenging conditions for the players. Johnny Foster, the coach currently training Tom McKibbin, is a mystery, with little public information available about him or his background from search results.

As the tournament enters its final stages, it promises to be an exciting battle between the leaders, Joakim Lagergren and Adrien Saddier, and the pursuers, including Rory McIlroy, Tom McKibbin, and Shane Lowry.