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Rory McIlroy struggling to back up sharp long game with the putter

By Keith Jackson

Sunday 6 August 2017 07:28, UK

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Rory McIlroy rues a number of missed chances to get closer to the lead after the third round of the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational.

Rory McIlroy admitted his third-round 68 should have been "a lot better" after another day of missed opportunities at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational.

McIlroy's long game has been in excellent order at Firestone Country Club and he is happy with the progress he has made with his iron play in particular, but his inconsistency on the greens has left him three strokes behind joint-leaders Thomas Pieters and Zach Johnson going into the final round.

Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland hits off the third tee during the third round of the World Golf Championships - Bridgestone Invitational
Image: Rory McIlroy is three off the lead going into the final round

The world No 4, playing his first event with close friend Harry Diamond on his bag after he decided to terminate his nine-year partnership with JP Fitzgerald, made a routine birdie at the long second but missed good chances from inside 15 feet at the first and fifth before finding rough from the tee at the sixth which led to a bogey.

McIlroy did manage to convert from six feet at the ninth, although he gave the shot straight back when he hacked from rough to rough at the 10th before he atoned with another birdie at the 11th.

AKRON, OH - AUGUST 05: Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland hits off the eighth tee during the third round of the World Golf Championships - Bridgestone Invit
Image: McIlroy is happy with his long game, although two wayward drives led to bogeys

The 2014 champion produced his second sublime chip-in for birdie in two days, this time at the 12th following Friday's superb effort on the 16th, but he was frustrated at not being able to convert from excellent scoring positions down the stretch as he remained on six under par.

"It could have been a lot better," McIlroy told Nick Dougherty at the Sky Cart afterwards. "I put myself in some good positions out there and I had some great chances coming in over those last six holes, but I didn't convert any of them."

McIlroy admitted he got fortunate with his pitch-in for an unlikely birdie at the 12th from a tough lie in the greenside rough, while he remains confident of staying in contention for the title over the final 18 holes.

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"I actually got a little lucky at 12 because it came out quite soft and hit the collar in between the green and the fringe, and that gave it a nice little shoot forward," he added. "It was fortunate, but sometimes you get breaks like that and it was nice to see that one drop.

AKRON, OH - AUGUST 05: Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland hits off the sixth tee during the third round of the World Golf Championships - Bridgestone Invita
Image: McIlroy hopes to put early pressure on the leaders on Sunday

"I could have been a few closer to the lead but I still feel, with the way I'm playing, that I have a good shot going into Sunday. I feel great about my game, my driving is good and my iron play has improved each and every day.

"I had a great warm-up on the range today so I felt really good going out onto the course. It's just a matter of doing it all over again, hopefully seeing a few more putts drop and putting a bit of pressure on the leaders and we'll see what happens."

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