Rory McIlroy confessed it would be “amazing” to claim his second Amgen Irish Open title and ease the pain of a year of near misses after he overcame winds gusting to 50 kmph and shot a joint best of the day 69 to take a one-shot lead into the final round at Royal County Down.

Amateur Sean Keeling crashed back to earth with an 81 but Tom McKibbin and Seamus Power made headway as high winds sent scores soaring in the third round of the Amgen Irish Open at Royal County Down.

Nothing soothes the pain of bitter defeat like the salve of victory but Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry know they will have to display the patience of Job if they are to win their second Amgen Irish Open titles this week.

Tom McKibbin admits playing Royal County Down for the first time was a “traumatising” experience. But as he makes his third Amgen Irish Open appearance in a stellar threesome with Rory McIlroy and defending champion Vincent Norrman, he’s looking forward to trying to achieve what “would probably be the biggest achievement of my career.”

Teenager Sean Keeling was gutted not to win the AIG Irish Amateur Close on Sunday but he looks set to receive a boost this week in the shape of an invitation to join superstars Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry in September’s Amgen Irish Open at Royal County Down.