Celtic champions Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell engineered a two-shot lead to put daylight between Ireland’s World Cup claim and a chasing trio of golfing powerhouse nations yesterday in Hainan, China.
World No. 2 McIlroy and last year’s US Open winner McDowell fired eight birdies in the four-balls third round to card a sterling eight-under 64.
Current US Open champion McIlroy was quick to thank his partner for holing the lion’s share of birdies.
“I was just lucky enough that Graeme played very, very well today and held a lot of great putts. I was a spectator for the majority of the round, but it was good,” McIlroy said.
The Irish stalwarts remain top of the leader board on 21-under overall, nudging ahead of the sizzling German pairing of world No. 4 Martin Kaymer and Alex Cejka, who holed 11 birdies in their ground-making 61.
Germany are tied second with big hitters South Africa and the US on 19-under overall.
Charl Schwartzel and Louis Oosthuizen of South Africa wooed the modest crowd with their powerful tees, as the duo carded an impressive 11-under 61 and sunk 11 birdies.
The resurgent US team of Gary Woodland and Matt Kuchar ensured their hands were still within touching distance of the trophy going into tomorrow’s fourth round with a nine-under 63.
Australia slipped to fifth as Brendon Jones and Richard Green struggled in the wet and humid conditions at the Mission Hills complex, but they still stayed close to the leaders on 18 under overall.
Defending champions Edoardo and Francesco Molinari of Italy put themselves back into contention with an eight-under 64 and are tied for 7th with Mexico on 16-under overall.
England’s Ian Poulter and Justin Rose also made heavy work in the fickle conditions, seeing their hopes of lifting the trophy disappear in the steamy atmosphere.
They carded two bogeys in their four-under 68 and are tied for 15th with Zimbabwe on 13-under overall.
However, China’s hopes for a fairytale victory were dashed as China’s Zhang Xinjun and Liang Wenchong slipped to 17th on 12-under.
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