Golf:Rory McIlroy gave another demonstration of his enormous talent in Miami today - but, much to his disappointment, not for the full 18 holes.
Golf’s new world number one charged from 28th place to second by playing the first 12 holes of his Cadillac Championship third round in a staggering nine under par. But after an eagle and seven birdies McIlroy then bogeyed the 14th and 16th and instead of challenging or even beating the Doral course record of 61 the 22-year-old had to settle for “only” a 65.
Those two late errors also put a serious dent in his hopes of making it two successive victories following the Honda Classic triumph last weekend which took him to top of the rankings for the first time.
Having closed the gap on overnight leader Bubba Watson from 10 shots to one the gap became seven when the American left-hander went out in 32 to move to 16 under.
McIlroy went to the turn in 30 despite par fives on the first and eighth. His magical run started with a chip-in from nearly 50 feet at the second and after making a 12-footer on the next he made it five birdies in seven holes with a hat-trick from the fifth.
That was courtesy of putts from eight, three and 10 feet and after holing from 14 feet on the short ninth he converted a 17-foot eagle chance at the next and chipped to four feet at the 12th to add yet another birdie.
McIlroy told Sky Sports: “You should not be disappointed with a 65, but I feel it could have been a little better.
“I got off to a great start and was just trying to keep it going, but got a pretty bad lie in the bunker on the 14th and in the rough at 16.
“Yesterday I was ranked last in putting, but I holed them today and I will need to do it again tomorrow.
“I need to get off to another fast start and maybe keep it going a bit better. I will have to shoot in the low sixties.”
McIlroy was playing alongside fellow Ulsterman Graeme McDowell, who carded a 67 to finish the day on seven under. Darren Clarke carded a 68, his best round of the week, and is level par for the tournament.
