Graeme holds a three-shot cushion
RORY McILROY will have to overturn a three-shot deficit if he is to get 2017 off to a winning start at the BMW SA Open in Johannesburg.
The world No. 2 overcame a back problem to fire a 67 in yesterday’s third round at Glendower Golf Club. But that was not enough to close the gap on England’s Graeme Storm, who also shot a 67 to get to 17-under-par.
A win for Storm would represent a remarkable comeback for a player who lost his European Tour card by just 100 euros 83 days ago, but was handed a reprieve when United States Ryder Cup star Patrick Reed failed to play enough events.
England’s Jordan L Smith has won the EuroPro Golf Tour and the Challenge Tour in the last two seasons and is enjoying his debut campaign on the European Tour, sitting at 13-under alongside South African Jbe Kruger.
McIlroy twice caught Storm yesterday, firstly when birdies on the second and eighth sandwiched a stunning eagle from 157 yards on the par-four seventh and again when he made a hat-trick of gains from the 11th.
A bogey at the last stalled