Two eagles send Rory McIlroy soaring to six-shot lead in British Open
For first time in its 154-year history, field went out from the first and 10th tees, while Northern Irishman crushed rivals in his wake in third round demolition
A sensational double eagle finish from Rory McIlroy gave him a six-stroke cushion going into the final round of the British Open as he crushed a chasing pack of challengers who tried and failed to hunt him down during a rain-hit third round.
The 25-year-old Irishman, looking for his third major and first on British soil, started the day with a four-stroke lead.
But by the time he reached the 12th hole that had vanished and he was caught in a dogfight with American shot-maker Rickie Fowler, hungry to win his first major.
I think everyone was getting ready for a hurricane
That was when McIlroy, who had been struggling off the tee, produced his best golf of the week at Royal Liverpool.
A birdie at 14 eased him back ahead, and with Fowler going off the boil, McIlroy struck what could prove to be two tournament-winning blows with magnificent eagles at the 16th and 18th. That put him at 16-under for the tournament, six strokes clear of Fowler who had eight birdies en route to a 68.
It was the biggest lead at the third-round stage of the Open since Tiger Woods at St Andrews in 2000. Woods eventually won by eight strokes on that occasion.
A further stroke back came Spaniard Sergio Garcia, who had a 69, and Dustin Johnson of the United States with a 71. Frenchman Victor Dubuisson was next best on eight under after a 68.