Golf

Late bogey sees Rory McIlroy slip six behind at Memorial

The world number three had to settle for a round of 70 and nine under par in Ohio

Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland and Keegan Bradley walk down the fairway on the first hole during the third round of The Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Village Golf Club. Photo: Matt Sullivan/Getty Images
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland and Keegan Bradley walk down the fairway on the first hole during the third round of The Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Village Golf Club. Photo: Matt Sullivan/Getty Images
Sat Jun 04 2016 - 22:49

Two bogey sixes at par fives, as well as a final hole dropped shot, saw Rory McIlroy’s third round surge stunted at the Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Village.

The world number three started the day five shots behind leaders Matt Kuchar and Brendan Steele but failed to make up any ground on a frustrating day.

Playing alongside Jordan Spieth for the third day in a row, an early birdie at the second hole set McIlroy up to make a third round surge but a disappointing bogey at the par five seventh left him back where he started.

Making use of a conventional putting grip ahead of the US Open in two weeks McIlroy answered straight back by rolling in a birdie two at the eighth.

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Two holes later another birdie moved him to nine under for the tournament and within sight of the lead.

However it would be a case of deja vu at the next when another bogey six gave the previous birdie straight back to the course.

McIlroy needed to get a move on and he did, starting at the 14th with a birdie three after an exquisite approach shot.

He would go on to take full advantage of the par five 15th with a birdie four to get to 10 under.

However, disaster would strike at the 18th to move the world number three back to the fringes of contention.

After driving the ball excellently all day McIlroy pulled his tee shot straight left on the last where it found the water.

After a drop he managed to get down in three to salvage a bogey but the dropped shot saw him card a 70 to sit on nine under par, six shots behind leaders Kuchar and Emiliano Grillo.

After a front nine where he failed to find any momentum and looked to be slipping down the leaderboard, Kuchar fought back with four birdies in a five hole stretch from the 11th to the 15th.

That got the Texan to 15 under and tied with Grillo at the top of the leaderboard.

However, Kuchar’s momentum would be stopped by a suspension in play as thunderstorms moved into the area.

With teeming rain and lightning the players were pulled off the course with the final group halfway up the 16th.

Meanwhile, world number one Jason Day had to endure a frustrating finish as, like McIlroy, the water on the left of the 18th saw his charge stunted.

The Australian would wind up with a double bogey six to card a 68 and sit four shots off the lead at 11 under.

Things didn’t quite go to plan for the third member of the ‘Big Three’ either as Jordan Spieth racked up five bogeys to sign for a two over par 74 and sit way back on four under par.