McIlroy and Tiger shine in Memorial third round
RORY McIlroy and Tiger Woods stormed into contention at the Memorial Tournament in Dublin, Ohio yesterday – the Holywood man carding a stunning eight under par 64 in the third round, while the 14-time Major winner briefly led as he put in a 68.
McIlroy, who only just squeezed into the weekend on the cut line of level par, had shot up to fourth when he came off the course following a faultless round which featured an eagle, six birdies and no dropped shots.
With the course playing fairly easily that did not last and his 64, that saw him eight under par for the tournament could have been even better had he not missed three further birdie putts from less than 10 feet at the ninth, 14th and 15th. But after his strong showing in the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth, it was a further encouraging sign with the US Open on the horizon.
Woods rather spoilt a round that had seen him eagle the same fifth hole that McIlroy did with bogeys on 16 and 18 to drop back to nine under overall. At the head of affairs, Chilean teenager Joaquin Niemann, the world No406, was still at the head of affairs as he turned for home but five shots covered the top 20.
Shane Lowry had a mixed 73, with four birdies, three bogeys and a double bogey as he sat on one under for the tournament.
Meanwhile at the Italian Open, two late bogeys put a dent in Graeme McDowell’s round as his level-par effort of 71 left him at 10 under going into the final round at Gardagold CC in Brescia – six shots behind Englishman Lee Slattery.
This time last week, Slattery was down in the dumps after finishing 146th out of 149 players competing at Wentworth. The 39-year-old has gone from fretting about his disappointing form this season to having the chance to claim a £879,000 first prize that is fully six times greater than any he has banked before in 362 appearances on the European Tour.
No wonder he looked bemused by the transformation brought about by a fabulous third round 62 for a one shot lead over Dane Thorbjorn Olesen and last week’s winner Francesco Molinari, with Danny Willett and Martin Kaymer two adrift.
‘Coming off the back of rounds of 77 and 79 at Wentworth, it’s fair to say I never expected this,’ said the likeable Slattery who, like fellow Southport man Tommy Fleetwood, is coached by Alan Thompson. ‘It just goes to show for all golfers out there, you’re never as far away as you think from playing well. It was just an incredible round of golf. I played lovely all day.’
Paul Dunne is eight off the lead after a round of 67, while Padraig Harrington is a further shot behind after he managed a 69.