McIlroy enjoys his round at Newcastle

GOLF: A relaxed Rory McIlroy made the most of a little help from his friends as he tries to end a disappointing season in style in the British Masters.

McIlroy, who was a late entry into the £3million event after failing to qualify for the Tour Championship, carded a threeunder-par 67 to lie four shots behind leaders Tyrrell Hatton and George Coetzee at Close House.

But it could have been a different story for the four-time major winner if a spectator had not found his ball inside the fiveminute time limit after a wild drive on the 17th, his eighth hole of the day.

McIlroy produced a superb recovery from thick rough to the elevated green and went on to make three birdies on the front nine in his penultimate tournament of an injury-plagued season, which the former world number one will bring to an early end after next week’s Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.

“It’s not a bad way to feel,” the 28-year-old said. “You’re not really looking ahead at anything, you’re just concentrating on the round out there and not thinking about anything else.

“I feel like I’m not under any pressure to perform at all, I’m not putting myself under any pressure. That’s probably the reason I’ve went out there and shot a decent score.”

Hatton and Coetzee enjoyed a one-shot lead over a fivestrong group which included Huddersfield’s Chris Hanson, with compatriots Graeme Storm, Lee Slattery and Ashley Chesters among those on five under.

Tournament host Lee Westwood, Martin Kaymer, Matt Fitzpatrick, Graeme McDowell and Ian Poulter all shot 66, but Masters champion Sergio Garcia had to settle for a levelpar 70.

Defending champion Alex Noren finished one over.