Rory McIlroy used his new putting grip to take a firm hold on the WGC-Cadillac Match Play Championship on Saturday.
McIlroy, who went left-hand low on his putter at the start of the week, posted a 4-under-par 68 that was the only bogey-free round of the day to take a three-stroke lead over Adam Scott of
Australia and defending champion Dustin Johnson on the Blue Monster at Trump National Doral in Miami.
McIlroy, the No. 3 player in the World Golf Rankings from Northern Ireland, hasn’t made a bogey in his last 34 holes and sits at 12-under 204.
“I thought it was pretty good to go bogey-free because the wind was coming from a different direction, so the course played tougher,” said McIlroy, who hopes to tie Geoff Ogilvy for second with three victories in the WGC events, miles behind Tiger Woods’ 18.
“It was a solid round and I made a lot of putts, for birdies and key par saves, including on the last hole. (The grip) feels really good, I’m comfortable with it and I just have to keep it going tomorrow.”
Scott, who won the Honda Classic last week and took a two-stroke lead into the third round at Doral, struggled to a 73 that included bogeys on the 13th and 17th holes to lose contact with McIlroy.
It was the first time in 15 rounds on the PGA Tour this year that the Aussie didn’t at least equal par.
“I didn’t have my best stuff today,” said Scott, who has 12 PGA Tour victories but is trying to win back-to-back for the first time. “I didn’t swing the club as well as I have the last few weeks. It was just one of those days.
“The rhythm was just off a little in my swing and Rory played great, so now I have my work cut out for me tomorrow. I just hope I wake up on the right side of the bed.”
Johnson, who won at Doral by one stroke over J.B. Holmes last year and can increase his streak to nine consecutive seasons with a PGA Tour victory, wound up at 71 and will play alongside McIlroy in the final round.
However, DJ lamented a missed four-foot par putt on the 18th hole.
“I’d like to be at least one stroke closer, but I like my position,” said Johnson, who has two WGC victories. “I played pretty well, but missed a couple short putts, hit a terrible putt on the last hole.
“I think it’s going to be windier tomorrow and the course will play tougher, so anything can happen.”
Phil Mickelson carded a 70, playing bogey-free over the last 14 holes, and was five shots back in a tie for fourth with Bubba Watson, who overcame a double-bogey 6 on the third hole in a 71, and
Danny Willett of England, who came in at 72.
Sergio Garcia of Spain shot 67 and was two more strokes behind in a tie for seventh with Anirban Lahiri of India, who totaled 71, and Rafa Cabrera Bello, another Spaniard who also had a 67.
Top-ranked Jordan Spieth struggled to a 73 and was tied for 17th, while No. 2 Jason Day of Australia was tied for 39th after a 71.
There have been 161 balls hit into the water on the Blue Monster this week, including 56 on Saturday.
