Rory McIlroy birdied two of his first three holes to move into the top 10 on day three of the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational in Akron, Ohio.

IT wasn’t on the first ball that caused a splash, nor was it on the next one. But at the par-three 17th — Ryo Ishikawa’s eighth hole — when his tee shot fell short and for a swim with the fish, the thought occurred.

PAUL McGINLEY, the man who won the last Ryder Cup, last night set up what should be a nail-biting climax to Europe’s 12-month race for automatic places next weekend.