WGC victory far from secure for Rory McIlroy, says Paul McGinley
Monday 7 March 2016 12:49, UK
Paul McGinley believes Rory McIlroy is in a strong position but still has work to do if he is to hold on and claim WGC-Cadillac Championship victory.
McIlroy's new putting technique continued to pay dividends as the Northern Irishman fired a bogey-free 68 at Doral, to open up a three-shot lead over overnight leader Adam Scott and defending champion Dustin Johnson.
While the world No 3's new-found form with the putter has bolstered his chances of claiming a first win of 2016, McGinley believes McIlroy needs to produce a similar display during Sunday's final round.
Speaking during Sky Sports 4's coverage from Trump National, McGinley said: "Rory's primed, in control and confident with his putting style, so is in a really good place.
"This tournament is not over. I think he (McIlroy) has really got to play well tomorrow because he has some serious competition around him."
"He's up for a battle and has taken grip of this golf tournament. If he's making a mistake, he's missing it in the right places, giving himself the chance to get up and down.
"He posted birdies when he has the chance to make them, was aggressive when he needed to be and is in complete control of his golf game and emotions.
"There was an impatience and frustration about him on the first day and you saw unforced errors as a result, but what he has done now is steadied the ship.
"He has calmed down, he's not making bogeys, and he's putting very well and controlling his game with a smile on his face.
"We know he's pretty formidable when he's like this, as we've all seen him do it before. He knows how to win and is a world class player who has won huge tournaments around the world
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"I think he's enjoying the battle of having all of these big names around him and in some ways is kind of showing them who is the boss!
"He's going to take a lot of beating tomorrow, but he still has a lot of work to do. I wouldn't discount Dustin Johnson and Adam Scott, who are both world class players who are capable of going out and shooting a 65 tomorrow.
"They can both go head-to-head and beat McIlroy, so this tournament is not over. I think he's really got to play well tomorrow because he has some serious competition around him.
"Those two are going to do everything they can to try and bring Rory down, so we're in for a great day's golf."
Watch the final round of the WGC-Cadillac Championship live on Sky Sports 4 - your home of golf. Live coverage gets underway on Sunday from 5pm
