Ireland's World Cup lead trimmed
Ireland's advantage at the midway point of the third round fourballs at the Omega Mission Hills World Cup has been trimmed by defending champions Sweden.
Saturday, 28 November 2009
Holding a three stroke overnight lead following Saturday's alternate shot foursomes, Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell reached the turn in four under par to progress to 22 under overall at Mission Hills Golf Club.
But with Robert Karlsson inspiring Sweden to five under at the turn, he and partner Henrik Stenson are firmly in the hunt.
Karlsson's putter was proving a key weapon in Sweden's arsenal as the former European number one drained a 30 foot birdie putt which broke three times from off the green at six before adding his fourth gain in five holes at the seventh.
World number seven Stenson finally made his first contribution of the day at the ninth to leave the defending champions a shot clear of Italy.
Brothers Francesco and Edoardo Molinari also played the front nine of the undulating Olazabal Course in five under to progress to 19 under par.
'Very lucky'
Ireland, who posted a brilliant 14 under par in Thursday's opening round fourballs, started brightly with two birdies over the first three holes.
But the Ulsterman had to wait until the seventh to add a third following McIlory's deft chip to less than foot from the greenside bunker before McDowell picked up his second shot of the day at the ninth.
Australia and Korea posted the clubhouse mark at 16 under par although it appears they will still be well off the pace by the end of the third day ahead of the testing final round alternate shot foursomes.
US PGA Championship winner YE Yang blazed six birdies on the front nine before partner Charlie Wi took over on the trip home with four of the five gains on the back nine as Korea posted an 11 under par 61.
"We played with Ireland on Thursday and they are playing really well," said US PGA Tour regular Wi.
"Rory and Graeme are hitting it so nice and they are making the putts when they need to.
"It depends how they finish up today, if we are two, three, four, five shots back, we might have a chance, but other than that, it will be really tough to catch them.
"YE shot 30 on the front nine by himself and then I was able to contribute on the back nine. He played really beautifully, but to shoot 61 you both have to contribute and I think that we are very lucky to make the putts at the right time.
"We didn't birdie the same hole, we picked up a birdie on the hole the other one didn't.
"If we were told we would have a 61 before we teed off we would have been very pleased and hopefully tomorrow we will be able to improve on what we did yesterday."
Australian duo Stuart Appleby and Robert Allenby also did not drop a shot in their 10 under 62.
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