Ireland clings on to World Cup lead
Source: Agencies |
November 29, 2009, Sunday
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RORY McIlroy and Graeme McDowell kept Ireland on course for a third World Cup triumph with an eight-under-par 64 in fourballs yesterday to take a one-shot lead into the final round of the US$5.5 million event in Dongguan, near Shenzhen.
The Ulstermen, who led by three shots at the start of the day, were unable to replicate the fireworks of their first round 58 but shared eight birdies in a blemish-free round at Mission Hills to move to 26-under, a shot better than Sweden and Italy.
"We played well and we probably left a couple of shots out there, but we are still in a great position going into tomorrow and that's the main thing, still very positive," world No. 10 McIlroy told reporters.
Henrik Stenson and Robert Karlsson, who have yet to drop a shot all week, carded a 63 in the final round foursomes to lift the trophy for Sweden last year, so will be pleased to have kept the leaders so close with their 10-birdie 62.
"I'm very pleased that we managed to creep a little bit closer and close the gap a little bit," Stenson said. "We are right in the mix tomorrow. We have the recipe from last year with a 63 in the foursome, if we can get anything close to that tomorrow, I think we have a good chance."
Brothers Edoardo and Francesco Molinari kept alive Italy's hopes of a first World Cup win with a superb 61, grabbing a birdie apiece with 20-foot putts on the final two holes to move alongside the Swedes.
"It's been a really good week, but today was probably the best day," Francesco said. "We both played really consistent, good golf ... It would be nice to win tomorrow, first of all for us, and then for golf in Italy."
Japan continued to be the strongest of the Asian challengers, firing a 64 for fourth place alongside South Africa (62), seven shots behind the leaders.
South Korea's Charlie Wi and Yang Yong-eun were on the only other team to fire an 11-under 61, a huge improvement over their woeful 75 in the second round. But the Koreans were 10 strokes off the lead along with India (65), Argentina (64) and Australia (62).
China's Zhang Lianwei and Liang Wenchong shot a 68 for a three-round total of 204.
The Ulstermen, who led by three shots at the start of the day, were unable to replicate the fireworks of their first round 58 but shared eight birdies in a blemish-free round at Mission Hills to move to 26-under, a shot better than Sweden and Italy.
"We played well and we probably left a couple of shots out there, but we are still in a great position going into tomorrow and that's the main thing, still very positive," world No. 10 McIlroy told reporters.
Henrik Stenson and Robert Karlsson, who have yet to drop a shot all week, carded a 63 in the final round foursomes to lift the trophy for Sweden last year, so will be pleased to have kept the leaders so close with their 10-birdie 62.
"I'm very pleased that we managed to creep a little bit closer and close the gap a little bit," Stenson said. "We are right in the mix tomorrow. We have the recipe from last year with a 63 in the foursome, if we can get anything close to that tomorrow, I think we have a good chance."
Brothers Edoardo and Francesco Molinari kept alive Italy's hopes of a first World Cup win with a superb 61, grabbing a birdie apiece with 20-foot putts on the final two holes to move alongside the Swedes.
"It's been a really good week, but today was probably the best day," Francesco said. "We both played really consistent, good golf ... It would be nice to win tomorrow, first of all for us, and then for golf in Italy."
Japan continued to be the strongest of the Asian challengers, firing a 64 for fourth place alongside South Africa (62), seven shots behind the leaders.
South Korea's Charlie Wi and Yang Yong-eun were on the only other team to fire an 11-under 61, a huge improvement over their woeful 75 in the second round. But the Koreans were 10 strokes off the lead along with India (65), Argentina (64) and Australia (62).
China's Zhang Lianwei and Liang Wenchong shot a 68 for a three-round total of 204.
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