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| Rory McIlroy in control with six-shot lead after third day of the Open | Rory McIlroy in control with six-shot lead after third day of the Open |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| At quarter past two on Saturday afternoon, the stage was set for a final-round Open showdown. Rory v Rickie. McIlroy versus Fowler. Two of golf’s most exciting young guns in direct battle. Former Walker Cup opponents, Florida neighbours and good friends away from the course. | At quarter past two on Saturday afternoon, the stage was set for a final-round Open showdown. Rory v Rickie. McIlroy versus Fowler. Two of golf’s most exciting young guns in direct battle. Former Walker Cup opponents, Florida neighbours and good friends away from the course. |
| Fast forward 62 minutes and the script had been ripped up. Whereas the pair had been tied at the summit of the championship leaderboard, with scores of 12 under par, McIlroy had subsequently pressed accelerate. When he does that, nobody in the game can live with him. | Fast forward 62 minutes and the script had been ripped up. Whereas the pair had been tied at the summit of the championship leaderboard, with scores of 12 under par, McIlroy had subsequently pressed accelerate. When he does that, nobody in the game can live with him. |
| The Northern Irishman now held a five-shot lead, which was to be enhanced by one before day three ended. McIlroy’s brilliance has surely left the rest of the 143rd Open field playing for second. | The Northern Irishman now held a five-shot lead, which was to be enhanced by one before day three ended. McIlroy’s brilliance has surely left the rest of the 143rd Open field playing for second. |
| This was a curious day three; subdued for long spells, on which the world- ending storm which was supposed to hit Royal Liverpool Golf Club never arrived. Instead, it was McIlroy who blitzed all before him; just when he appeared in danger, two superb eagles over the closing three holes of the links placed him in a formidable position. All the evidence suggests it is an unassailable one. | |
| Only three winners in the history of a championship which has spanned more than 140 years have carded four rounds in the 60s. Having added a 68 to consecutive 66s, McIlroy may well join Greg Norman, Nick Price and Tiger Woods in that bracket. | Only three winners in the history of a championship which has spanned more than 140 years have carded four rounds in the 60s. Having added a 68 to consecutive 66s, McIlroy may well join Greg Norman, Nick Price and Tiger Woods in that bracket. |
| More notable is just how many the 25-year-old might win by. McIlroy’s 54-hole score of 200 is just two outside the tournament record. He has claimed his previous two majors by an eight-shot margin; only Woods has won an Open with so much to spare since 1913. McIlroy is already 16 under par; Woods was 18 under in victory at Hoylake eight years ago. | More notable is just how many the 25-year-old might win by. McIlroy’s 54-hole score of 200 is just two outside the tournament record. He has claimed his previous two majors by an eight-shot margin; only Woods has won an Open with so much to spare since 1913. McIlroy is already 16 under par; Woods was 18 under in victory at Hoylake eight years ago. |
| If McIlroy is to prevail on Merseyside, before his 26th birthday he will be within one tournament – the Masters – of a career majors grand slam. He laughed when contemplating as much. | If McIlroy is to prevail on Merseyside, before his 26th birthday he will be within one tournament – the Masters – of a career majors grand slam. He laughed when contemplating as much. |
| “That would mean a lot of hype going into Augusta next year,” McIlroy said. “I’d be in pretty illustrious company. It would mean an awful lot. I never thought that I’d be able to be in this position. I didn’t think that I’d even have the chance at 25 to go for three legs of the grand slam. | “That would mean a lot of hype going into Augusta next year,” McIlroy said. “I’d be in pretty illustrious company. It would mean an awful lot. I never thought that I’d be able to be in this position. I didn’t think that I’d even have the chance at 25 to go for three legs of the grand slam. |
| “But we are not getting ahead of ourselves. I’m going to try to put all of that out of my head. It would be way too much to think about and way too much to ponder. First things first; just play a good solid round of golf.” | “But we are not getting ahead of ourselves. I’m going to try to put all of that out of my head. It would be way too much to think about and way too much to ponder. First things first; just play a good solid round of golf.” |
| There is, of course, an alternative to this heady scenario. That McIlroy is somehow toppled from his position before the Claret Jug is handed over on the 18th green. Fowler is his closest challenger, with Sergio García, Dustin Johnson, Victor Dubuisson and Edoardo Molinari also dreaming of Open glory. | There is, of course, an alternative to this heady scenario. That McIlroy is somehow toppled from his position before the Claret Jug is handed over on the 18th green. Fowler is his closest challenger, with Sergio García, Dustin Johnson, Victor Dubuisson and Edoardo Molinari also dreaming of Open glory. |
| Should such an upset transpire, it would rank among the most striking in the modern history of golf. Even when McIlroy collapsed at the 2011 Masters, his advantage was four with 18 holes to play. Three years on, there is no element of McIlroy’s game which suggests an imminent tumble. | Should such an upset transpire, it would rank among the most striking in the modern history of golf. Even when McIlroy collapsed at the 2011 Masters, his advantage was four with 18 holes to play. Three years on, there is no element of McIlroy’s game which suggests an imminent tumble. |
| His Saturday closing stretch was a thing of beauty. McIlroy butchered the par fives, the 16th and 18th, with long drives and iron shots which left him almost identical eagle putts. Both found the centre of the cup. It was a pre-empted strike. | His Saturday closing stretch was a thing of beauty. McIlroy butchered the par fives, the 16th and 18th, with long drives and iron shots which left him almost identical eagle putts. Both found the centre of the cup. It was a pre-empted strike. |
| “I was just sort of waiting for those two holes,” McIlroy said. “I felt like I was driving the ball well, and if I could drive it on the fairway on 16 and 18, I knew that I would have irons into the greens for my second shots. To be able to make two threes there coming in was very important and obviously sets me up nicely for tomorrow.” | “I was just sort of waiting for those two holes,” McIlroy said. “I felt like I was driving the ball well, and if I could drive it on the fairway on 16 and 18, I knew that I would have irons into the greens for my second shots. To be able to make two threes there coming in was very important and obviously sets me up nicely for tomorrow.” |
| And to think, McIlroy had started day three in precisely the same manner as day two: with a wobble. He hit what he later described as a “crappy” approach to the 1st, before a bunker shot which merely dribbled on to the green. Johnson’s birdie on the same hole ensured a two-shot swing. | And to think, McIlroy had started day three in precisely the same manner as day two: with a wobble. He hit what he later described as a “crappy” approach to the 1st, before a bunker shot which merely dribbled on to the green. Johnson’s birdie on the same hole ensured a two-shot swing. |
| Johnson’s challenge was to falter between the 7th tee and the 9th green, where he dropped three shots. Fowler emerged from the pack to reach the dizzy heights of 12 under but was unable to maintain such momentum. | Johnson’s challenge was to falter between the 7th tee and the 9th green, where he dropped three shots. Fowler emerged from the pack to reach the dizzy heights of 12 under but was unable to maintain such momentum. |
| “I’m definitely satisfied with where I’m at,” Fowler insisted. “Bad swings happen and it’s just unfortunate that I kind of strung a few of those together and it cost me a couple of shots coming in.” | “I’m definitely satisfied with where I’m at,” Fowler insisted. “Bad swings happen and it’s just unfortunate that I kind of strung a few of those together and it cost me a couple of shots coming in.” |
| Fowler’s approach to major championships, and links golf in particular, is a breath of fresh air. He plays without inhibition, which has rightly installed him as a gallery favourite. | Fowler’s approach to major championships, and links golf in particular, is a breath of fresh air. He plays without inhibition, which has rightly installed him as a gallery favourite. |
| McIlroy and Fowler are not alone in being due Saturday credit. The R&A’s unprecedented move of introducing a two-tee third-round start, on account of an horrific weather forecast, drew sharp glances from some, as competitors were afforded a benign scoring platform. | McIlroy and Fowler are not alone in being due Saturday credit. The R&A’s unprecedented move of introducing a two-tee third-round start, on account of an horrific weather forecast, drew sharp glances from some, as competitors were afforded a benign scoring platform. |
| By the time McIlroy was conducting his post-round press conference, biblical rain had flooded several Royal Liverpool fairways. Had the Open been played in such conditions, chaos would have ensued for players and spectators. | By the time McIlroy was conducting his post-round press conference, biblical rain had flooded several Royal Liverpool fairways. Had the Open been played in such conditions, chaos would have ensued for players and spectators. |
| Golf’s governing body is routinely castigated for getting things wrong; it is only fair, then, to point out something which was proven right. | Golf’s governing body is routinely castigated for getting things wrong; it is only fair, then, to point out something which was proven right. |
| Those who needlessly point towards history and tradition may remember the Open did not conclude on a Sunday until 1980. Times change. | Those who needlessly point towards history and tradition may remember the Open did not conclude on a Sunday until 1980. Times change. |
| Fowler was an invited guest when McIlroy celebrated his 21st birthday, four years ago, and immediately before the Players Championship at Sawgrass. With the duo playing together on Sunday, Fowler will surely be on hand for another party. | Fowler was an invited guest when McIlroy celebrated his 21st birthday, four years ago, and immediately before the Players Championship at Sawgrass. With the duo playing together on Sunday, Fowler will surely be on hand for another party. |