McIlroy poised to strike at European Masters

Rory McIlroy is in contention at the European Masters but Andres Romero holds the lead going into the final round.

Argentina’s Andres Romero will take a one-shot lead into the final round of the European Masters but Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood are joint-favourites at 10/3 (Andres Romero 17/4 – European Masters outright).

Romero, the world number 735, added a 66 to rounds of 69 and 61 to sit on 14-under par with just 18 holes to go at Crans-sur-Sierre.

The South American has done little this year to suggest that he would be challenging in the Swiss Alps and has some big-name stars snapping at his heels.

Australia’s Wade Ormsby (11/2) is one stroke back after a 67 while Malaysia’s Gavin Green (9/1) and England’s Fleetwood reached -12 after 54 holes.

McIlroy looked as though he would be right up there at the end of day three but dropped shots at the 17 and 18th to card a one-under-par 69 and the Northern Irishman is in a group of four on -11.

He was joined on that mark by Italy’s Lorenzo Gagli, Christian Bezuidenhout of South Africa and Finnish player Kalle Samooja.

McIlroy has played a lot of golf in recent times, scooping the FedEx Cup title on Sunday to pocket $15m, and the four-time major winner confessed that fatigue may have played a part in his poor finish to the round.

“I probably felt a little flat out there and a little tied, and maybe it all just caught-up with me,” he said. ” I am looking forward to getting into bed early tonight and get a good night’s sleep as I am pretty tied.

“I felt I played pretty solid and while I did make a few mistakes coming in, if I can go out and play a good front nine tomorrow I will be right in it.”

Spain’s Sergio Garcia (20/1) is in a group of four players on -10 after a 66 but will have to go low on Sunday to lift the trophy.

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