Rory McIlroy will take a three-shot lead into the fourth and final round of the Shanghai Masters at the Lake Malaren golf course after firing a masterful third round 65 on Saturday.
McIlroy looking masterful Saturday
Anthony Kim is his closest pursuer after matching McIlroy's round, but the American may come to regret the bogey he made at the 18th.
McIlroy, the reigning US Open champion, who remains on course to land the record $2m winner's cheque, played some immaculate golf, never once dropping a stroke in his flawless round.
The World No 3 from Northern Ireland fired birdies at the first, third, seventh and ninth, the hole he double-bogeyed in his second round 69, heading to the turn and then added further birdies at the 13th, 15th and 16th coming home.
Korean prospect Noh Seung-yul is in third place after his 67 left him four back, and Ian Poulter, who shot a 67, is a further three shots back in fourth.
World No 2 Lee Westwood could only return a 70 along with Aussie Geoff Ogilvy in sixth place - both are 11 behind McIlroy - and Padraig Harrington, Colin Montgomerie and Paul Casey all disappointed with 73s.
TOP 10 LEADERBOARD
198 Rory McIlroy (NIrl) 64 69 65
201 Anthony Kim (USA) 68 68 65
202 Noh Seung yul (Kor) 72 63 67
205 Hunter Mahan (USA) 65 72 68, Ian Poulter (Eng) 67 71 67
209 Lee Westwood (Eng) 69 70 70, Geoff Ogilvy (Aus) 73 70 66
210 Padraig Harrington (Irl) 67 70 73, Robert Karlsson (Swe) 69 69 72, YE Yang (Kor) 69 73 68
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