Rory McIlroy still three behind Graeme Storm after day three at BMW SA Open
Sunday 15 January 2017 14:07, UK
Rory McIlroy will head into the final round of the BMW SA Open three shots adrift of Graeme Storm after a low-scoring third day at Glendower Golf Club.
McIlroy booked a place in Sunday's final group despite dropping a shot at the last hole to take a little gloss off a five-under 67, which included a thrilling hole-out for eagle from the fairway at the seventh.
But overnight leader Storm remained on course for his first European Tour victory since the 2007 Open de France after producing his second consecutive flawless round, carding a 67 to close on 17 under par.
English rookie Jordan Smith is a further stroke back after he bogeyed the final two holes to slip to 13 under alongside Jbe Kruger, while 2010 Ryder Cup star Eduardo Molinari matched Storm's second-round 63 - equalling the course record - to march 33 places up the leaderboard to 12 under.
McIlroy had been hampered by a back strain in his second-round 68, but he appeared to be swinging freely and with no discomfort following treatment from the physio early on day three as he made a solid start with five pars and a birdie at the long second.
The world No 2 then brought his round to life with a stunning eagle from 157 yards at the seventh, and a birdie at the par-five eighth swept him into a tie for the lead with Storm.
But McIlroy erred at the ninth as he three-putted from 12 feet, and he missed a good birdie chance at the 10th before getting back on track with a good pitch to six feet at the next, sparking a run of three straight gains to re-establish the pressure on the leader.
McIlroy failed to take advantage of the par-five 15th after short-siding himself with a pulled approach, and he tugged his final drive of the day into into the trees and was forced to pitch back out to the fairway.
He was unable to salvage par from the fringe on the 18th green, but his score of 14 under was good enough to hold on to outright second after Smith's untidy finish.
Storm remained the man to beat as he put together another composed round of golf, making birdies at each of the four par-fives and picking up another at the tough seventh just moments after McIlroy's eagle.
The English journeyman, who avoided a trip to the dreaded Qualifying School last year when Patrick Reed decided to give up his European Tour membership, cruised to the turn in 33 and picked up further shots at 13 and 15 while keeping his card error-free down the stretch.
Smith looked set to be Storm's closest challenger ahead of McIlroy by the end of the day after the impressive youngster birdied the second, eighth and ninth before hammering a mammoth two-iron to the heart of the 12th green and rolling in the 50-foot putt for eagle.
Last season's Challenge Tour winner also birdied the 15th to get to 15 under, but he flew the 17th green and failed to get up and down before another mistake at the last left him four behind the leader.
Smith shares third with Kruger, who was two over after eight before carding a remarkable six birdies over the next seven holes, although the run ended with his fourth bogey of the round at the 16th.
Molinari also picked up six shots in seven holes on the back-nine, storming home in 30 to join a large group of players on 12 under including Peter Uihlein, who was just one off the lead when he bogeyed the 15th and compounded the error by making a double-bogey five at 17.
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