McIlroy on the brink of US Open glory

Rory McIlroy stands on the brink of a first major win after carding a third round 68 at Congressional Country Club, Maryland to open up a monster 8-shot lead over the rest of the field in the US Open.

After setting two US Open records on day two, McIlroy set another on Saturday by posting the 54-hole record score of 14-under par to lead YE Yang, who overcame a tardy start to post a third round 70 and maintain second. McIlroy’s 54-hole total of 199 was one stroke better than Jim Furyk’s total of 200 which he set back in 2003.

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Rory stretches his US Open lead to six shots

Rory McIlroy broke all sorts of US Open records on the second day’s play at Congressional Country Club and dominated the rest of the field by turning in a round of 66 to extend his lead to 6-shots.

But it could have been more for Rory, whose double-bogey at the last after finding water with his approach gave a glimmer of hope to those in behind. However, most didn’t take it as Congressional proved once again for many that it was no pushover – except for the man from Northern Ireland.

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McIlroy tames Congressional with stunning 65 to lead US Open

Rory McIlroy once again finds himself at the top of the leaderboard in a major championship after posting a stunning round of 65 in the first round of the US Open at Congressional Country Club, Maryland.

McIlroy, who had led by four heading into the final round of the US Masters in April only to capitulate under the pressure and expectation to post a closing 80, was without error in his first round as he carded six birdies with no dropped shots to open up the largest lead after the first round of the US Open in 35 years.

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Volvo China Open Betting Preview

This week the European Tour remains in Asia as it heads to China for the Volvo China Open, played over the lengthy Luxehills International Country Club, Chengdu. This is the first time that the course has staged a European Tour event, but it has featured on the OneAsia and Omega China Tour over the past couple of seasons.

The event has attracted a strong field, with four major winners among the line up, including defending champion YE Yang.

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Sabbatini holds off Yang challenge to win Honda Classic

Rory Sabbatini carded a closing round 70 to win his first PGA Tour title since 2009’s Byron Nelson Championship, but the South African had to dig deep to make sure of the victory after YE Yang threatened his lead.

Sabbatini had taken a five-shot lead into the final round at PGA National, and had looked comfortable for most of the early holes as those pursuing his lead failed to make any real headway. Even a bogey at the ninth hole where he three-putted – the first time all week – appeared not to be enough to slow down the Sabbatini bandwagon.

That is until Korean YE Yang, winner of the Honda Classic in 2009, sowed the first seeds of doubt in the South African’s mind by making a birdie on the 13th hole. That was followed by another Sabbatini bogey, and when Yang birdied the par-3 15th hole, the lead was cut to just one shot.

Sabbatini restored his 2-shot cushion with a solid birdie on the 16th, rolling in a 10-footer while Yang could only muster a par, and after the pair shared pars on the weather-interrupted 17th hole, Yang would need to eagle the last to have any chance. Needing to reach the green in two, the Korean pulled his tee shot into the rough down the left of the fairway before lashing out into a greenside bunker in two.

Meanwhile, Sabbatini had found the fairway and after laying up short in two with a wedge shot that flirted briefly with the water hazard, put his third onto the fringe of the green, 12 feet from the hole. Yang needed to hole his bunker shot, but missed his target and despite making a birdie it wasn’t enough as Sabbatini rolled his putt to within 2 feet for a certain par and the win.

Jerry Kelly, who played with Yang and Sabbatini in the final group finished with a 67 to take third place, a further shot behind Yang, while Rickie Barnes took fourth place following a 67.

Tommy ‘Two Gloves’ Gainey – who looks a winner waiting to happen on the PGA Tour – took fifth spot on 3-under par following his round of 68.

Meanwhile, US Open champion Graeme McDowell carded a best-of-the-day 64 to come from nowhere into a share ofsixth with Jeff Overton, Gary Woodland and Matt Bettencourt, while Luke Donald carded a 66 to move to 1-under par and into a share of tenth with Japan’s Hiroyuji Fujita, Stuart Appleby and Charles Howell III.

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