Special features

Bourdy two clear at Fanling

McIlroy roars into contention with fine 65

Last updated: 14th November 2009

Bourdy: two-stroke lead

Third round leaderboard:
(GB & Ire unless stated)
G Bourdy (Fra) -16
R-J Derksen (Ned) -14
R McIlroy -11
* Four players at -10

Related links

News

Also see

Frenchman Gregory Bourdy fired a superb 63 to ensure he will take a two-stroke lead into the final round of the Hong Kong Open at Fanling.

Starting the day with a share of the overnight lead, Bourdy produced a terrific round that included seven birdies and not a single bogey to finish on 16-under-par, two clear of playing partner Robert-Jan Derksen.

It was also a highly productive day for Rory McIlroy who gave his Race to Dubai hopes a big shot in the arm with a 65 that lifts him into third on his own at 11-under-par.

With McIlroy's main rival in the standings Lee Westwood unable to do better than a 69 that leaves him at five-under, the Northern Irish youngster looks poised to overtake the Englishman ahead of the season finale in Dubai next week.

Two-time winner at Fanling Miguel Angel Jimenez also made a big move with his 63 taking him into a share of fourth at ten-under alongside Ireland's Peter Lawrie (66), Italian Francesco Molinari (66) and defending champion Lin Wen-tang of Chinese Taipai (67).

Graeme McDowell carded a 66 to climb into the top ten at nine-under, while David Howell, Simon Dyson and Ian Poulter are part of a nine-man group at eight-under.

But it is Bourdy who leads the way and the Frenchman will be hopeful of claiming his first European Tour victory since his win at the Portugal Open last April.

In the penultimate group with Derksen, the 27-year-old produced a blistering front nine of just 30 strokes withy birdies at two, four, five and seven.

He maintained that form on way home by picking up further strokes at 12, 13 and 15 and made a fine up-and-down at the last to ensure he kept a bogey off his card.

Fantastic

"I enjoyed it, it was a fantastic round," Bourdy stated afterwards. "I am going to try and keep my putter warm because it was unbelievable today.

"It was one of my best ever rounds, although it was not my best long game, I was consistent on everything.

"I am going to continue to play my game and if I play under par I will have a big chance to win."

Equally happy was McIlroy who this week is looking to go one better than his runner-up finish 12 months ago.

"I was in a similar position last year and shot a 65 to get into the play-off," he explained.

"I'll have to do something like that or even better tomorrow. My mindset is to get off to a fast start and try and keep it going."

A rollercoaster round from the rising star of European golf including a double-bogey at the sixth and a bogey at 14, but also an eagle at the par-five 13th and six birdies.

Experience

"It was great to get those two shots back straight away," he added. "I knew even though I was back to level there was a lot of golf still to be played.

"I knew I was hitting it well and putting well and it was a matter of giving myself chances again.

"Maybe a couple of years ago, after making double, I would have been a bit flustered but that comes with experience.

"When people ask the difference between turning pro and now and the answer is experience. That could have been it for me and I could have shot 73 or 74."