Rory McIlroy got struck up a tree then climbed the leaderboard at the weather hit US PGA championship in Carolina.
The Irishman leads with Vijay Singh after the third round at Kiawah Island was delayed due to a thunderstorm.
The players will now play 27 holes on Sunday as McIlroy looks for the second major of his career.
McIlroy hit five birdies in eight holes before a bogey on the ninth left him tied with Singh on six under.
His round included real drama when TV footage had to be used to confirm his ball was stuck up a tree on the third.
McIlroy sensibly took a penalty drop after he drove his ball into a tree and then pitched to within seven feet of the hole before making the resulting putt.
The 23-year-old “It was a great start, the start that I was looking to get off to.
“It’s nice going into the final day, well hopefully, if we get it finished, in a great position.
“It being 27 holes, I definitely don’t mind that. I don’t mind if it takes a while to get done. I am just in a great position going into Sunday and that’s all I can really ask for.”
Graeme McDowell is four shots off the lead and Padraig Harrington a further shot behind.
3 Comments
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.cillowen | Aug 12, 2012, 10:59 PM EDT
well done rory - good on ya. congrats of which you'll get many. keep prospering with a steady wise head.
DavyOMalley | Aug 12, 2012, 08:10 PM EDT
Way to go, Rory! What a win! Fantastic to win the last major of the year after a bit of a struggle in the middle of the season. You and Graeme and Padraig and Darren and Hoey (who DQ'd himself this week for breaching a rule) -- and any others I left out. Irish golf is in great shape. I think Keegan Bradley is Irish, too, now that I think about it.
pilib04 | Aug 12, 2012, 07:12 PM EDT
Rory won by 8 setting the record. But of course, he is not Irish according to the gospel of ciarabythebay.