RORY’S BID FOR HISTORY
McIlroy secures six-shot Open lead to keep treble in his sights
RORY McILROY promised to take nothing for granted after opening a six-stroke lead with another brilliant performance at The Open.
The Northern Irishman shot a third-round 68 at Royal Liverpool yesterday and is closing in on a momentous piece of golf history.
Victory today would make him the first European to win three different majors since the Masters was founded in 1934 — and at the age of 25. Even legends such as Sir Nick Faldo and Seve Ballesteros won only two of the four.
‘It would put me in really illustrious company if I won,’ said McIlroy.
Only one man in the long history of majors has lost such a big final-round lead, and that was Greg Norman to Faldo at the Masters in 1996.
But McIlroy said: ‘I won’t be taking anything for granted. I came back from seven shots with a round to go to win the PGA at Wentworth in May, so I know it can be done.
‘I’ve got to make sure I don’t get ahead of myself and keep the big numbers off my card.
‘A lot can happen — I’ve been on the right side of it and the wrong side of it, that’s why you can’t let yourself think about winning, you’ve just got to stay completely in the present.
‘That’s what I’m going to try to do for all 18 holes tomorrow.’
McIlroy, who began with a four-shot lead, was caught by American Rickie Fowler at the 13th, but an amazing finish to his round saw him muster two eagles in his last three holes.
He received a rapturous reception from the 7,000 fans packed into the grandstands at the 18th and the thousands more who had followed him on every hole.
‘It’s a pleasure to play in front of people who give you so much support and I hope I can give them something to cheer tomorrow,’ he added.
Rory’s father Gerry should also be in the money this evening, for he is in line to claim on a bet he made a decade ago, when he placed £100 on his son winning The Open by the age of 25 — at odds of 500-1.