McIlroy's blistering start quickly goes ice cold 

The Ulster man undid his early good work with bogeys on the 11th, 13th and 15th to return in 38 and effectively end his title hopes.

Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy reacts on the eighteenth during day three of The Open at The Royal St George's Golf Club in Sandwich, Kent. 

It was a tale of two nines at the Open for Rory McIlroy who briefly moved into contention before tossing his chance away - and one of his clubs.

A masterful four-under front nine of 31, and a morale boosting up and down from a bunker at the 10th, left the 2014 champion on the periphery of contention at four-under for the tournament, seven shots back.