Golf: Erratic McIlroy cuts loose

Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland plays a shot on the 2nd hole during the third round of the British Open Golf Championship in Carnoustie, Scotland. Photo / AP

Yesterday's round of 70 was typically fast and loose, containing five birdies and four bogeys, leaving the Ulsterman four shots off the leaders but Rory McIlroy has no intention of slowing down in his quest to end his four-year wait for a fifth major title.

McIlroy started the final round firmly wedged in the chasing pack and is the one player Jordan Spieth, Xander Schauffele and Kevin Kisner will dread to see appear in their rearview mirrors.

From the moment he arrived in Scotland, McIlroy had vowed there would be none of the timidity or tentativeness he felt undermined his efforts at the Masters and US Open.

Live by the driver, die by the driver has become McIlroy's mantra in Carnoustie. And no one can accuse McIlroy of holding back. He routinely out-drove playing partner Schauffele by 100 yards but it was a spin of the wheel as to whether it found the fairway, the rough, or in the case of his tee shot on the third, a different fairway altogether.

"I felt like the course was perfectly set up to take advantage of it and attack it," said McIlroy. "I tried to do that for the most part. I'm obviously disappointed after the way I finished but I'm still in the tournament."

More than anything, the accuracy of his pitching scuppered McIlroy's round. Only 61 per cent of greens were reached, meaning McIlroy spent as much time scrambling as he did hunting birdies. His tally of 26 putts represents another improvement in an area of his game.

"Maybe my wedge play wasn't quite as good as it should have been, but I give myself plenty of chances. Even the putts that didn't go in, I felt like were good putts. I putted well. I held out when I needed to."

The day seemed tailor-made for McIlroy to attack. The sea of red across the early afternoon leaderboard confirmed that "Carnastie" had its nails clipped and teeth capped. It did not help that the wind picked up later on but as playing partner Schauffele's 67 proved, a low score was still attainable.