Rory McIlroy stared at the 16th green after his second shot failed to make it. It ended up in rough on the left of the putting surface and the Irishman stared at the ground. He look really down, and could that be the shot which ended his challenge for the Genesis Scottish Open?
He chipped up and missed the put for his second bogey of the round. Back to 11-under for the world No 2.
At the par-three, 193-yard, 17th, McIlroy swung, twirled the club in his hands and stared at the ball as it landed around 10ft from the flag. A birdie chance? Yes, and the ball dropped, back to 12-under and still in the chase.
Leader were dropping shots as the pressure increased. Johnny Keefer, the former American college star, missed a long putt for par at the tenth and Matt Fitzpatrick saw his par putt slip past two holes behind the 25-year-old American.
It was the Englishman’s second bogey of the round and he slipped back to 13-under leaving Tom Kim of Korea in pole position.
Min Woo Lee, who was also right in the mix, then pushed his tee shot on the short ninth to the side of the green, the 226-yard hole proving tough for the outright leader.
On the ninth, a bogey for MacIntyre after a missed putt. Frustration. It has been a struggle on the links with three bogies and a birdie in an outward half of 37.
A hole ahead, Tom Kim (Korea) sank a 12ft putt for a birdie to move to 15-under.
FLASHBACK: Rory McIntyre chats in the car park at The Renaissance. Picture Nigel Duncan
