Double Major winning Rory McIlroy has targeted a repeat of last year’s final round, a seven under par 65, heading to this year’s fourth day of the WGC – Cadillac Championship.
McIlroy tees up in Sunday’s showdown to the $US 9m event sharing 19th place on three over par and just five shots behind American Patrick Reed.
Reed carded a day three 69 to move to four under par and two shots clear of compatriots Jason Dufner (68) and Hunter Mahan (71).
However looming large in the Cadillac rear view mirror is defending champion Tiger Wood who cut a swath through the 68-player field with the lowest round of the day, a six under par 66 to be in fourth place on one under par.
Rory McIlroy (NIR) during round 3 at the WGC Cadillac Championship, Blue Monster, Trump National Doral, Miami, Florida,USA.
Picture: Fran Caffrey www.golffile.ie
McIlroy’s third day was a mix of just two birdies but also third and seventh hole bogeys and double bogeys at the par five eighth and 10th holes
“It was a tough day hitting two balls into the water, so I didn’t play the par fives all that well,” he said.
“I played those in four over par so when you do that around here, it’s sort of putting yourself behind the 8-ball a little bit.
“After Friday’s round I was feeling so tired and I was actually in bed by 10pm. I was really beat. So I didn’t feel quite as bad today, and with the pace of play a lot quicker which helps.
McIlroy had been well off the pace throughout the first three days of last year’s event but a final day 65 elevated him into a share of 10th place on 10-under par and nine adrift of Woods.
And with McIlroy staring at a three-week absence after Sunday’s round he singled out a similar score that would be pleasing ahead of his next event – the April 3rd starting Shell Houston Open.
“A nice low one would be good tomorrow and then I take three weeks off, so that would be a nice way to finish,” he said.
“I shot 65 here in the last round last year to get myself in the top-10. I need something like that tomorrow to have a chance to win but to get into the top-10 again, I wouldn’t need something that low.
“But I’ll be trying to go as low as possible. There’s guys out there today that shot 5, 6-under par so, so it’s possible.”
And McIlroy indicated he will not be tempted to play before competing in Houston.
Fellow Ulsterman Graeme McDowell is two shots fewer than McIlroy having shot a day three 73 to be tied in ninth place on one over par.
“I haven’t blown myself out of the tournament which is a good thing,” he said.
“I’m still well within touch for tomorrow.
“I didn’t play that well today with my rhythm out a little bit, whether that was something to do with the winds yesterday or what. I didn’t have a very good warm-up this morning.
“So it was a kind of hang-in sort of day. My iron play is in decent shape, wedge play is good, putting’s good. I just need to get in the fairway a bit more often tomorrow.”
