GOLF:HOW TIME has flown for Rory McIlroy. Two years ago tomorrow, as a precocious 18-year-old, he shot the final two holes at St Andrews in two-under par to secure his European Tour card in his second event as a professional. This weekend he is in pole position to move to top of the European money list with second or better in the Dunhill Links Championship at the same venue.

And if €529,000 and a lofty perch looking down on his peers wasn’t motivation enough to put some breathing space between him and fellow leaders Michael Hoey and Scot Richie Ramsay, he can do it all with his father by his side.

Senior’s 50th birthday present was a chance to play the pro-am with his son this week and the decision paid dividends for junior yesterday when dad encouraged him to repeat his closing holes of 2007.

“It was a great way to finish the round,” said McIlroy after signing for a 65 and moving to 11 under. “On the 16th I three-putted for my first bogey of the day and going onto the 17th Dad said to me, ‘you’ve finished with two threes here before, so why don’t do you it again?’”

The Dubai Desert Classic champion was already thinking the same. He promptly hit a drive and seven-iron, made the putt and then smashed another drive onto the 18th green 350 yards away and two-putted.

“I was able to do it. I hit a great seven iron into the 17th to 12 feet and was able to hole it. I’ve never driven the 18th green before so it was nice to get one on to the green finally. I’m very pleased to be at 11 under and the last couple of months, I’ve just played really, really solid golf.”

He’ll need all the nous he has accrued in the last two years to finish what he’s started now but that’s where he thinks dad will come in handy again.

“I think playing with my Dad will be a great distraction,” he added ahead of his third round at Kingsbarns. “Growing up I never thought he’d be able to walk up the 18th at St Andrews with me in this big a tournament. It’s fantastic.”

Hoey would normally wish him the best but the Ballymoney man is in the zone too and yesterday’s 66 was, he says, “probably one of the best rounds I’ve ever played”.

His unblemished card from Carnoustie was a joy to sign off on after four birdies and an eagle at the par-five 15th.

“It’s just great and I’m enjoying the links golf. I played it as an amateur and it’s great to be on the links. I’m really happy with the position I’m in and that’s my goal to do better in the big events because I’ve struggled with them.”

In a tight top 20, there’s more Irish interest on eight under with Paul McGinley and Darren Clarke in sight of the lead after a 67 and 68 respectively at St Andrews.

Gareth Maybin (73) and Graeme McDowell (70) are five under after their rounds at Carnoustie, while in his first outing since his FedEx Cup challenge fell just short, Pádraig Harrington will need a good round at Kingsbarns today to avoid missing the cut, despite a second 70 leaving him four under at St Andrews.

Damien McGrane is two under after a 71 at Carnoustie, while Peter Lawrie (70) and Gary Murphy (71) are one under and Shane Lowry is one over thanks to a 71 at Kingsbarns.

Former Australian cricket captain Steve Waugh and Scott Strange lead the pro-am standings, with JP McManus’s son, Kieren a shot behind on 20 under with Soren Hansen.

Alongside the McIlroys on 15 under and in joint 13th, is the remarkable one-legged golfer Manuel De Los Santos and England’s Richard Bland.

After a 66 at Kingsbarns they went three better at Carnoustie. The competition will be trimmed to the top 20 teams after today.

Leading Scores

(Irish and British unless stated, par 72):

St Andrews

133 – Richie Ramsay 67 66, Rory McIlroy 68 65.

134 – Mikko Ilonen (Fin) 70 64, Simon Dyson 68 66.

136 – Oliver Wilson 69 67, Paul McGinley 69 67, Darren Clarke 68 68 137 – Luke Donald 72 65.

Carnoustie

133 – Michael Hoey 67 66 135 David Dixon 68 67, Kenneth Ferrie 69 66.

137 – Steven O’Hara 71 66 138 Thomas Bjorn (Den) 64 74, Francois Delamontagne (Fra) 71 67, Graeme Storm 69 69, Johan Edfors (Swe) 70 68, Raphael Jacquelin (Fra) 67 71.

139 – Richard Bland 72 67, Graeme McDowell 69 70, Gareth Maybin 66 73, Thongchai Jaidee (Tha) 70 69, Brett Rumford (Aus) 68 71, Alessandro Tadini (Ita) 69 70, Ignacio Garrido (Spa) 68 71, Sam Little 68 71, Jyoti Randhawa (Ind) 67 72.

Kingsbarns

134 – Alastair Forsyth 70 64, Ross McGowan 66 68 135 Jose Manuel Lara (Spa) 67 68 136 Peter Hanson (Swe) 72 64, Wade Ormsby (Aus) 70 66.

137 – Wallace Booth 72 65, Paul Broadhurst 70 67 138 Carlos Del Moral (Spa) 69 69, Dale Whitnell 69 69, Graham Delaet (Can) 70 68, Chih-bing Lam (Sin) 69 69.

139 – Francesco Molinari (Ita) 71 68, Alan McLean 71 68, Jarmo Sandelin (Swe) 70 69, Markus Brier (Aut) 69 70, David Lynn 73 66.