Open: Early setback for McIlroy

Rory McIlroy began his final round of the Open Championship at Royal St George’s today, albeit two and a half hours before he had been hoping.

McIlroy came into the tournament as favourite following his stunning US Open triumph at Congressional, but bogeyed two of his first three holes on Thursday and never really looked likely to contend.

A third-round 74, while playing partner and fellow 22-year-old Rickie Fowler took 68 to move into contention, left McIlroy nine shots behind fellow Northern Irishman Darren Clarke.

And any faint hopes of a brilliant comeback – Paul Lawrie was 10 behind after 54 holes at Carnoustie in 1999 before winning in a play-off – took another massive blow on the third today.

McIlroy had parred the first and birdied the second, but had to take a penalty drop after his tee-shot to the par-three landed in a bush, leading to a double-bogey five.

Playing partner Sergio Garcia was faring much better, the Spaniard picking up birdies at the second and fourth to move to two over par.

Blustery winds were still making scoring difficult, although American Spencer Levin had carded a 69 and Justin Rose, fourth in the Open as a 17-year-old amateur in 1998, finished 11 over after a closing 70.