McIlroy on a roll
Rory McIlroy’s remarkable start to life as a professional golfer continued in the third round of the Madrid Open today.
McIlroy turned professional only after playing in Britain and Ireland’s narrow Walker Cup defeat last month – but finished 42nd on his European Tour debut in the British Masters at The Belfry.
The 18-year-old then turned in a stunning display to finish third in the Dunhill Links Championship at St Andrews last Sunday, a performance which all but secured his card for next season.
A few eyebrows might still have been raised when the teenager from the North spoke about targeting a first tournament victory this week, but that was by no means out of the question after a perfect start to his round today.
McIlroy, the leading amateur in the Open at Carnoustie in July, birdied the first three holes and picked up another shot on the sixth to reach the turn in 32.
At seven under, the former European amateur champion was up into a share of third place – albeit four behind leader Daniel Vancsik, of Argentina.
Vancsik, winner of the Madeira Island Open in March, began the day tied for the lead with Spain’s Alejandro Canizares – but had forged three ahead courtesy of birdies at the second, fifth and sixth with his sole bogey so far coming at the third.
Canizares, born in Madrid and possibly feeling the pressure of having several members of his family watching, had matched Vancsik’s birdie on the second but dropped four shots in the next three holes – thinning a chip across the green on the fourth for a double bogey.
That left England’s Gary Lockerbie in second place on eight under par, a position the 24-year-old from Penrith needs to maintain to keep his card for next season.
Lockerbie currently lies 141st on the Order of Merit, with only the top 115 after the Majorca Classic on October 28 retaining playing privileges for 2008.
Spain's Pablo Martin had set the clubhouse target on six under par with a third-round 65 which completed a remarkable turnaround in fortunes.
With seven holes of his second round to play Martin was seven over par and looked certain to miss the halfway cut.
However, the 21-year-old, who made history by becoming the first amateur to win a European Tour event in the Portuguese Open in April, then played those seven holes in six under and fired six more birdies and an eagle today.
Asked what he was thinking on the 12th tee yesterday, Martin told PA Sport: “That it was all over, I only had seven more holes of pain!
“But my caddie and I just tried not to think about it and get something going and the putter started getting hotter and hotter.
“It’s great to play in front of the Spanish crowds for the first time as a professional and I’ll try to shoot another low round tomorrow and see what happens.”
