Big crowds in for Saturdaypublished at 12:57 British Summer Time
Irish Open third round
Matt Gault
BBC Sport NI at Royal County Down
The walk to the media centre was a little more fraught this morning, what with the significant increase in punters.
Anyway, I got here in one piece and already this place has a different feel to it.
The crowds have poured in early and there’s all manner of folk here, from die-hard fans sporting hats and jackets from previous tournaments they’ve attended to the more casual punters, who know that a day out at the golf is usually a bit of craic.
They’ve got what they wanted, too. Shane Lowry teed off at 11:40 BST while Rory McIlroy is out in the penultimate group at 13:05.
He’s just two shots off the lead and is the obvious attraction this weekend, but Tom McKibbin has been going well today too.
If you want a flavour of the crowds following Rory this week, just look below.
Image source, Getty Images