Danny Willett will tee-off just after half-past eight with a two-shot lead from 7-under par.
The reigning Masters champion will resume his challenge just after world number three and tournament host, Rory McIlroy who is in out-right second place on 5-under.
England's Callum Shinkwin is tied for third place on 4-under and he's in the opening group to tee-off this morning at half-past seven.
Paul Dunne is also in contention on 2-under par as he prepare to resume his challenge and the Greystones native says that it's an added bonus to be playing so close to home…
Of the other big-name Irish players in the field…
Graeme McDowell and Shane Lowry will resume today on 1-under par, Paul McGinley is on level par and Darren Clarke starts this morning from 1-over.
But Padraig Harrington faces an uphill battle to make it into the weekend field when he resumes from 4-over par later this afternoon.
