European Open: Rory McIlroy went off to watch the final of "Britain's Got Talent" after giving himself another chance for his second European Tour victory. As strong winds caused mayhem again in the European Open at the London Club McIlroy produced a superb four-under-par 68 to charge from 25th place overnight to joint third.
And Chris Wood, the 21-year-old who as an amateur finished a spectacular fifth in The Open last July, made the exact same move as he continued his bid for a maiden Tour win.
No fewer than nine players held at least a share of the lead during a third round littered with high scores, but at the end of it France’s Christian Cevaer, 449th in the world, and Indian Jeev Milkha Singh were three clear of the chasing pack at nine under par.
They shot 70 and 71 respectively, Cevaer making one of only two birdies all day on the 471-yard last. The 69-strong field were a cumulative 76 over par there.
Singh, joint halfway leader with Cevaer’s compatriot Michael Lorenzo-Vera, covered the last six in a quite brilliant four under and as the world number 39 is probably favourite now to take the title.
Spaniard Pablo Larrazabal had an incredible sextuple bogey nine on the short 17th — it included two penalty drops and a left-handed air shot in the bushes left of the green — and world number four Sergio Garcia was one of several stars to finish with a triple bogey seven.
McIlroy and Wood share third spot with big-hitting Spaniard Alvaro Quiros and both are eagerly looking forward to the closing 18 holes.
The Co Down youngster, who shot a 65 at Wentworth last Saturday before slipping back to fifth in the final round, revealed he has “a little niggle” in his lower back.
But he said: “I had a really nice bath last night, got into bed and watched the golf in the States.”
When reminded about the “Talent” final, however, the Dubai Desert Classic champion replied: “I’m a bit of a golf geek to be honest, but that might edge it tonight.”
To demonstrate the strength of the wind he reduced the 541-yard fifth to a drive and 118-yard sand wedge, while on the 16th his 153-yard seven-iron came up 30 yards short.
Wood turned professional straight after his Birkdale heroics and led on his professional debut in Sweden, but then caught food poisoning and fell away.
He has not dropped a shot on the fearsome 471-yard 18th yet and said: “I’m not thinking about winning yet. I’ve just got to keep doing the same that I’ve been doing mentally this week.
“It’s taken me a while to get going this season. Coming through Tour school I didn’t get into that many events and those I did I was practising in snow and ice at home and then going out to Indonesia or wherever.”
The wind is far more used to from his amateur days — and the same is true of McIlroy, of course.
Earlier, Stephen Dodd mixed eight birdies with six bogeys in a real rollercoaster ride 24 hours after driving all the way from Kent to Wales thinking he had missed the halfway cut.
The 42-year-old former World Cup winner was not alone in that, though.
Lee Westwood was between Cambridge and Peterborough in his new Jaguar when he was contacted and told he was back in the tournament.
“I increased my carbon footprint,” said the Ryder Cup star after a disappointing third round 74. “I got a call — but I wish I hadn’t!”
All those who finished on one over par at lunchtime yesterday looked like missing out on the final two rounds and even Colin Montgomerie at level par went off to spend the afternoon in London with his children thinking he was out.
But a strong afternoon wind sent scores soaring.
“I live the other side of Cardiff and got home about 5.30pm,” said Dodd after a 70 for one under.
“I watched on television and could tell that one over had a chance. So after it was confirmed I drove back at 9pm and got to the hotel about midnight. I’ve only done it once before in my career I think — a long time ago when I drove home from Collingtree Park in Northampton.”
Westwood was down to three over, while Montgomerie also shot 74 to finish the day two over.
