BLOWING SHOT AND COLD

Mcllroy 'happy' but glory bid is slipping through his fingers

- NEIL McLEMAN

WHEN Rory McIlroy romped to victory here in 2014, he shot two 66s to open up a four-shot lead before torrential rain came on the Saturday. 

Only the weather forecast is the same this year. And if the Ulsterman is finally going to end his long Major drought this weekend, he is going to have to win it in a very different way with a miracle comeback from nine strokes back.

All the evidence of his opening rounds of 71 and 70 suggest that, once again in a Major, it is just not going to happen for him. But he will rack up yet another top-10 finish.

McIlroy made his third birdie of the day at the 18th yesterday to get into the red numbers before his third round.

But the world No.2 spoke in his post-match press conference in the same way he had just played – measured, calm and a bit flat after nearly five hours of being buffeted in the wind.