OPPORTUNITY IS A LITTLE BIT LOST FOR KNOX

RUSSELL KNOX rued a late lapse despite moving firmly into contention for the Irish Open in Donegal yesterday.

The Scot was five under par for his round as he approached the par-five 17th at Inishowen and looking to edge even closer to leader Erik van Rooyen.

But a bogey six was certainly not what the doctor ordered as the man from Inverness slipped back to eight under for the championship.

That left him six shots adrift of the South African overnight but sitting on his own in fifth place nevertheless as he signed for a 68 at Ballyliffin Golf Club.

Van Rooyen carded a fine 66 to open up a four-shot lead over New Zealander Ryan Fox (70) and Swede Joakim Lagergren (69). They are one ahead of Englishman Danny Willett, who continued his recent revival to move up to nine under.

The former Masters champion recovered from a double-bogey six on the second hole to shoot six birdies in his third-round 69.

He is a shot ahead of Knox and a couple ahead of French duo Raphael Jacquelin (68) and Matthieu Pavon (73).

Rory McIlroy, whose foundation is hosting this showpiece event on the Donegal coast, is back on one under following a level-par 72 in which he again played flawlessly from tee to green but could not get his putter going.

He is alongside Scotsman David Drysdale, who managed a two-under-par 70 yesterday.

The three other Scots who made the cut are further back in the field, Marc Warren on level par after a 72, Scott Jamieson (74) on one over and Richie Ramsay on two over following his 74.