Rory McIlroy took a big step toward gaining the No. 1 spot in the world rankings, grabbing a two-stroke lead ahead of yesterday’s final round of the Honda Classic.
The Northern Irishman shot a four-under par-66 in windy conditions on Saturday, recovering from successive bogeys on the sixth and seventh holes to produce three birdies on the back nine with some of his characteristically confident golf.
“It was another very solid day out there,” he said. “I’m very happy, obviously, with the position I’m in, and I just need to try and keep doing the same things tomorrow.”
Photo: AFP
McIlroy, who can take over the top spot from Englishman Luke Donald only with a victory, finished with a birdie on the 18th hole, coming out of sand a little too strongly and then draining a 12-foot putt from the opposite fringe.
The 22-year-old from Holywood stands at 11-under par for the tournament and has a great chance of getting to the pinnacle of the global rankings for the first time.
“I have to really stay in the present, stay in the moment and not think about everything else that could happen, whether it be going to No. 1 or winning my first tournament [here],” he said. “I’ve just got to go out there and try to put a good number on the board.”
However, McIlory said it would be tough to keep his mind free of the prospect of being No. 1.
“It might be a little bit difficult. It might creep in every now and again, but if you can keep it out for the majority of the time, I think it is the best thing to do,” he said.
Americans Harris English and Tom Gillis were two strokes behind McIlroy, while Englishman Justin Rose and Americans Keegan Bradley, the PGA Championship winner, and Brian Harman, who smashed the course record on Friday, were a further two strokes back.
English, a 22-year-old rookie, will play in McIlroy’s group along with journeyman Gillis.
“I think it is going to be fun. Two 22-year-olds and a 43-year-old,” Gillis said. “Hopefully they don’t walk too fast and I can catch them up.”
Tiger Woods, looking to make up ground, could only manage a one-under 69, leaving him well back, nine shots off McIlroy.
“I was close to hitting a good one today,” he said. “I hit it good, putted good. Boy it was really close to being a really low round.”
The weather forecast for PGA National yesterday calls for possible thunderstorms, so the final round will begin early with threesomes going off the first and 10th tees.
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