Rory McIlroy lands double eagle to be on top

Hoylake: 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 to add a third Major to his collection and a 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. 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 gave him a 68 and left 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 US with a 71. Frenchman Victor Dubuisson was next best on eight under after a 68.

“I won from seven back at Wentworth so I know how leads can go away,” McIlroy said. “I feel good, I’ve been in this position before. Hopefully I’ll handle it well. I’ll treat it like I did at Congressional (2011 US Open) and how I did at Kiawah Island (2012 US PGA Championship). “My game plan all week has been to take care of the par fives and I want to do that again tomorrow.”

It was already a remarkable day for the British Open because for the first time in its 154-year long history the field went out from both the first and 10th tees instead of just everyone going off the first.