Robert McIntyre stays in competition for residence victory on the Genesis Scottish Open.
A 12 months after being thwarted by Rory McIlroy’s last-gasp heroics on this occasion, Scotland’s McIntyre now has the possibility to assert the title he most covets as he heads into the ultimate spherical.
He shot a third-round 63 on Saturday on the Renaissance Membership, his lowest rating of the day in variable circumstances, and completed two strokes behind Ryder Cup teammate Ludwig Aberg.
Aberg shot back-to-back 64s to succeed in 17 beneath with a 65, McIntyre shot 15 beneath and former world No. 1 Adam Scott struck again after a 64 at residence .
Defending champion McIlroy entered the ultimate spherical 5 pictures behind the chief after a irritating third-round 67.
Not even a three-putt bogey on No. 18 may take away the shine from McIntyre’s day, because the left-hander completed with an eagle and 7 birdies as he sprinted throughout the course in entrance of a house crowd supporting the Partizans.
“The final gap is a troublesome gap, whether or not it is calm, tailwind or headwind, and once they put the pin on the highest shelf, it turns into much more troublesome,” McIntyre mentioned.
“However general, I performed completely nice. Stable once more from tee to inexperienced, putt rolled superbly. I needed to make it occur, and it occurred.
“I am not shy to say that the Scottish Open is what I would like. It is my final aim and I’ve mentioned that since Monday. The Scottish Open is my resume for my complete profession. I feel.
“I’ve to go play golf and make it occur. I can not power it, there are plenty of good gamers chasing me within the event. I can solely management myself and I’ve managed it very properly to date.
“I nonetheless have 18 holes the place I can management myself higher.”
For the third day in a row, McIlroy felt like he may make two or three pictures with ease, because the world No. 2 shot 4 beneath by the primary 10 holes earlier than back-to-back wins on No. 18. Scored 7 pars and a bogey.
“The birdies have dried up,” McIlroy mentioned.
“I saved hitting good pictures, particularly the previous few holes. I feel I had three eight-foot birdies on 15, 16 and 17, however I did not convert and bogeyed the final gap.
“So I most likely had the worst rating I may have had the final 4 holes, which was unlucky as a result of I felt like I may have been there, main at 15 beneath, however ended up dropping one. The ball was disappointing.
“However I can be there inside three or 4 o’clock [of the lead] If I get off to an excellent begin, at the least there’s nonetheless an opportunity. That is one other alternative to attempt to win a really prestigious event with an extended historical past.
McIlroy, whose subsequent likelihood to finish a extreme drought since 2014 is subsequent week’s Open at Royal Troon, added: “It is easy to be affected person, understanding the competitors is there.
“It is easy to be affected person, understanding that there can be a watch this week and ultimately there can be a watch subsequent week.
“However I’m completely happy to enter subsequent week after getting myself into probably the most intense factor tomorrow.”
Aberg initially responded properly to McIntyre’s cost with birdies on the primary, third, sixth and tenth holes, however discovered himself with bogeys on the eleventh and twelfth holes. Two strokes behind.
Nonetheless, the world No. 4 then birdied the thirteenth gap from distance and added additional pictures on the sixteenth and seventeenth to regain the lead.
“It isn’t the best golf event, however it’s an excellent consequence,” mentioned Aberg, who missed the reduce finally 12 months’s Scottish Open in simply his fifth event as an expert.
“I assumed I performed fairly properly. I hit the pictures I needed after which clearly had bogeys on 11 and 12, however once you play in a 72-hole golf event, this stuff occur. You It is unimaginable to be excellent each second.
“However I am pleased with the way in which I hung in there and completed. When a putt like that goes within the thirteenth gap, it offers you somewhat further push and I feel, I am wanting ahead to the ultimate spherical.
“It seems like I am taking part in with Bob as properly, so that might be a cool pairing.”
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