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Fellow Ulsterman praises amazing talent

 

Northern Irishman two clear heading into final round of Honda Classic



Rory McIlroy is on course to be the new world number one as he claimed a two-shot lead after the third round of the Honda Classic in Florida.

The 22-year-old shot a joint best-of-the-day 66 to take him to 11 under par for the tournament and if he completes the win on Sunday he will dethrone Luke Donald at the top of the rankings. His closest challengers heading into the final round are Tom Gillis and Harris English, while halfway leader Justin Rose could only manage a one-over 71 on Saturday that left him in joint fourth place and four behind.

McIlroy recorded a hat-trick of birdies starting on the long third, two-putting there and then holing from 22 and 10 feet.He was two clear at that point but promptly bogeyed the next two holes, coming up short of the green on the sixth and three-putting the short seventh.

That gave the lead to Gillis, who on the eighth took a shoe and sock off and rolled up his trouser leg to play his ball out of the edge of the water and holed from 33 feet for par. He followed that with a 28-footer for another par, birdied the 10th from five feet and then rescued a further par from 33 feet again on the next. - http://www1.skysports.com/

Ian Poulter has withdrawn from this week's Honda Classic PGA Tour event due to pneumonia.



The Brit, who had a recent clash with Nick Faldo regarding his work ethic and distractions off the course, had complained of suffering from a high temperature prior to his withdrawal.

A chest X-ray revealed the pneumonia and it now remains to be seen if he recovers in time for next week's world championship in Miami.

Poulter said on Twitter: "Sorry guys never been so disappointed in pulling out of a tournament. Never felt so rough, hope the first reserve plays well in a great group today." Poulter was replaced by Argentine Miguel Angel Carballo, who played alongside Tiger Woods and Lee Westwood. - http://www.sportinglife.com/

Spaniard gets European Shot of the Month award



Sergio Garcia's first hole-in-one as a professional has been voted as the European Tour's Shot of the Month for January.The Spaniard's ace topped a poll on the Tour website ahead of Abu Dhabi Golf Championship winner Robert Rock and Graeme McDowell.

Garcia smote a pure seven iron from the tee at the 186-yard 12th hole in the first round in Abu Dhabi, and his ball pitched and spun from the right of the pin and rolled gently into the cup. His achievement earned him a three-night stay at the Emirates Palace every year for the rest of his life, a prize also awarded to McDowell when he emulated the feat at the same hole in the final round.

But it was Garcia's shot that earned 32% of the votes, while Rock polled 26% for his superb approach to 10 feet at the 14th hole from a fairway bunker on the final day. Rock duly converted the birdie putt and went on to earn worldwide recognition as he held off Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy to clinch the biggest victory of his career.  - http://www1.skysports.com/

Despite closing the gap on Luke Donald it will still take a win at this week's Honda Classic for Rory McIlroy to go to world number one.



McIlroy missed the chance to move ahead of Donald when he lost the final of the Accenture Match Play Championship in Tucson to American Hunter Mahan.

The 22-year-old Northern Irishman cut the difference between them from 1.45 ranking points to 0.53, but there will be fewer points on offer in Florida - partly because Donald is taking the week off.

Lee Westwood stays at number three after losing his semi-final clash with McIlroy and may have to wait until next week's WGC-Cadillac Championship in Miami for his next opportunity to regain top spot. - http://www.sportinglife.com/