McILROY HOLDING STEADY
World No.2 has up and down third round at Augusta as Masters legend Gary Player voices doubts on his ‘passion’
RORY McILROY’S inconsistent form continued to dog him on Moving Day at Augusta National, as the crucial third round is termed. It brought little change for the Irishman as his first nine holes saw a mixture of three birdies, one double bogey and a bogey, leaving him off the pace in his hunt for a first green jacket.
As McIlroy turned in to Amen Corner at one over par for the tournament, he remained a definite step back from the leaders – five under par Charlie Hoffman, and the foursome of William McGirt, Rickie Fowler, Thomas Pieters and Sergio Garcia who were all one shot back from the American.
His struggles echoed comments by legendary former winner Gary Player, who told the Irish Mail on Sunday, ‘It would be my instinct that Rory will establish himself as No 1, but I don’t know what his passion is. I don’t know what his dreams are. ‘If he has the passion, if he has the desire, if he is prepared to make the sacrifice. There are so many ifs.’ The world No.2 produced the fast start he was looking for and was clearly determined to erase the memory of a costly stroke of bad luck on day two, when his approach to the 18th clattered into the pin and rebounded 20 yards off the green. The four-time major winner hit a superb pitch to three feet but missed the par putt to leave himself five shots off the lead. However, McIlroy got that shot back when play resumed yesterday in far calmer and warmer conditions than the first two days.