McIlroy leads the way in Switzerland

9/6/2008

Rory McIlroy will take a four stroke lead into the final round of the Omega European Masters in Switzerland after a third round 66.

And afterwards the 19 year old said he had “settled his nerves” with a fantastic round which started with an eagle.

If he takes the title and the €330,330 first prize McIlroy will become the third youngest winner in European Tour history.

South African Dale Hayes was only 18 when he won the 1971 Spanish Open, while Seve Ballesteros was just five days younger than McIlroy at the 1976 Dutch Open - the first of his record 50 Tour victories.

Brett Rumford, joint top at halfway with the Northern Ireland teenager, threw down the gauntlet with an opening 40-foot eagle putt.

But McIlroy had already hit his approach to the par five to three feet, made the putt for a matching three and by adding six birdies went on to score a 66 to the Australian's 73.

That took last year's leading amateur at The Open, who began his first trip to Crans-sur-Sierre with a 63, to 13 under par and continued a remarkable turnaround in his fortunes after missing the last three halfway cuts.

Leaderboard – Round 3:

1.  Rory McIlroy                  NIR  63 71 66 200 -13
2.  Juan Abbate                  ARG  68 67 69 204 - 9
     Alejandro Caňizares        ESP  67 68 69 204 - 9
     Christian Cévaër            FRA  68 71 65 204 - 9
     Julien Clément               SUI  69 68 67 204 - 9
     Robert Dinwiddie            ENG  76 64 64 204 - 9
     Jean-Francois Lucquin     FRA  68 67 69 204 - 9
8.  Emanuele Canonica         ITA  67 70 68 205 - 8
     Rafa Echenique              ARG  69 70 66 205 - 8
     Miguel Angel Jiménez      ESP  68 69 68 205 - 8
     Gary Orr                        SCO  67 71 67 205 - 8
     Julio Zapapa                  ARG  66 72 67 205 - 8

Source: European Tour, Ota Doležal