McIlroy poised to strike at European Masters - (2025)

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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