GOLF:The undisputed king of world golf, Tiger Woods, has officially endorsed Rory McIlroy as the prince-in-waiting after tipping the Holywood teenager to one day succeed him as world number one.

Woods, 33, was speaking at Doral after firing a four-under-par 68 in the third round of the WGC-CA Championship. That took the 14-time major winner to seven-under par for the tournament, three shots behind McIlroy, who carded three bogeys over his final five holes to post a level-par round of 72.

Phil Mickelson and Nick Watney lead the challenge going into the final round on 16-under par, four strokes clear of Jeev Milka Singh and Camilo Villegas.

McIlroy has taken America by storm, with the world’s top players lining up to lavish praise on the 19-year-old with the big smile and ever bigger game.

Asked if McIlroy could one day become world number one, Woods was unequivocal.

“There’s no doubt,” he said. “There’s no doubt. The guy’s a talent. Hopefully while I’m not around or while I’m around. Certainly he has the talent. We can all see it.

“The way he hits the golf ball, the way he putts, the way he can chip, get up and down.

“He has the composure. He has all the components to be the best player in the world, there’s no doubt.”

While Woods was rehabilitating his left knee following the season-ending surgery he underwent after his US Open victory at Torrey Pines last June, McIlroy has emerged as one of the brightest young stars in the game, rubber-stamping his promise with a maiden professional victory at the Dubai Desert Classic in January.

Now, Woods said it was just a question of waiting for McIlroy to mature. “It’s just a matter of time and experience and then basically gaining that experience in big events. That takes time and I mean, jeez, he’s only 19. Just give him some time and I’m sure he’ll be there.”

McIlroy, the youngest player in the field and bidding to become the youngest tournament winner in USPGA Tour history at the age of 19 years, 10 months and 12 days, had been going well at 13-under before a run of three bogeys in four holes dropped him back to 10-under.

McIlroy, though, stayed composed at the final hole to make par for a round of 72 to give himself a fighting chance on the last day on the same mark as Australia’s Rod Pampling and American Justin Leonard.

“It was a pretty difficult day out there and I thought I was doing very well,” McIlroy said. “I just let a few slip at the end. It could have been better but I am still there or thereabouts.”

World number three Mickelson carded a third-round 69 on the Blue Monster course after seeing his two-shot halfway lead eroded by a 67 from Watney as the pair vied for the lead all day in the final group.

Ireland’s world number five Pádraig Harrington, who had started at seven-under, had been well placed at 10-under before a double bogey at the 17th sent him back to eight-under in a round of 71.

Graeme McDowell shot a 70 to move to one-over-par while Darren Clarke will start the final round at level-par following a 71.