McIlroy enjoying Canadian challenge – Betfred Blog

Rory McIlroy is hoping to feed off the vociferous support when he takes a share of the lead into the final round of the Canadian Open (McIlroy 9/5 Outright Betting).

The Northern Irishman was well placed after rounds of 67 and 66 but carded a faultless six-under-par 64 on Saturday to join US duo Webb Simpson (7/2) and Matt Kuchar (4/1) on -13 at the top of the leaderboard.

McIlroy is known as an excellent frontrunner and so holds all the aces at Hamilton Golf and Country Club as he look to bounce back from a missed cut at the Memorial Tournament.

The crowd got behind the 30-year-old and the man from Holywood will be hoping for more of the same at the business end of the event on Sunday.

“It’s probably the best atmosphere I’ve played in a long time,” he told pgatour.com.

“I seem to get pretty good support most places I go, but for whatever reason here I think there are a lot people with Irish roots who seem to be very vocal out there. It’s great to see. I’m really enjoying myself out there.”

Home favourite Adam Hadwin (12/1), Ireland’s Shane Lowry (9/1) and American Brandt Snedeker (8/1) are just one stroke back in fourth while Henrik Stenson (25/1) of Sweden has outright possession of seventh place on -10.

Graeme McDowell is another Northern Irishman in contention on -8 and he shares ninth spot with Jonathan Byrd, Erik van Rooyen and Nick Taylor.

G-Mac may be too far back to win but a top-10 will probably be enough to secure a spot in this year’s Open Championship to be held on his home course of Royal Portrush (McDowell 6/4 Top 10 Finish).

Odds subject to change