Rory is Mr Consistent to be the man they all have to catch in China
Rory Mcilroy headed into today’s final round of the WGC-HSBC Champions in China with a one-shot lead, thanks to a third-successive five-under round of 67 yesterday.
Mcilroy had closed day two one shot behind Matthew Fitzpatrick, but capitalised as the Englishman slipped from the top of the leaderboard yesterday, finishing with a birdie to head into the final round with a one-stroke advantage over Louis Oosthuizen, who shot 65.
For the second day running Mcilroy hit the turn in 33, but he went bogey-free for the first time this week and added two birdies on the back nine.
Oosthuizen opened his round with five birdies in pursuit of a maiden World Golf Championships title, while Fitzpatrick dropped to third, two shots off Mcilroy alongside defending champion Xander Schauffele of the United States.
England’s Paul Waring is a shot further back in fifth.
Despite ascending to the top of the tree, Mcilroy saw plenty of room for improvement in his third round at Sheshan International.
“I feel like I weathered a ministorm at the start,” the Northern Irishman said.
“After that, the round started to get going and I hit some good shots and held some good putts.
“But I gave myself plenty of chances – a lot of chances from between 15 and 20 feet, so you’re not expecting to hole all of them – but I hit a lot of good putts today that didn’t go in.
“I stayed patient, I birdied the holes that I needed to birdie and I built a very gradual round.
“No bogeys, which was nice, but just kept plugging away trying to give myself chances.
“If I can go out and replicate what I’ve done over the first three days, I think I’ll be pretty hard to beat.”
Overnight leader Matt Fitzpatrick was just a couple of shots back heading into the final 18 holes, and hoping for a moreproductive day than yesterday.
“It was a bit up-and-down. I certainly didn’t have my A-game and just didn’t feel comfortable out there with my driver.
“The fairways here are tough, and that was a bit of a grind. To get in at 13-under was good – you’ve got to be on your game.
“Of course, you’re looking at leaderboards, and anyone that says otherwise is a liar.
“You’ve always got it in your mind, that you know what you need to do.
“But, at the same time, you’ve got to try to stick to the game plan.
“That’s why everybody is here is to win. If not, you may as well go home. It will be a good final day.
“Unfortunately, Rory is playing very well. He’s playing very annoying. I’ve got to play well.
“That’s why it’s a World Golf Championships. It’s got the best players in the world.”
Oban’s Bob Macintyre slipped to his worst score of the week with a third-round 73 to stand at fourunder-par in a share of 22nd.