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Forget Tiger

July 19, 2014

Rory McIlroy takes commanding 6-shot lead at British Open

Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland celebrates after playing an eagle on the 16th hole during the third day of the British Open Golf championship at the Royal Liverpool golf club, Hoylake, England, Saturday July 19, 2014. (AP Photo/Jon Super)

Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland celebrates after playing an eagle on the 16th hole during the third day of the British Open Golf championship at the Royal Liverpool golf club, Hoylake, England, Saturday July 19, 2014. (AP Photo/Jon Super)

HOYLAKE, England (AP) — His once-comfortable lead gone, Rory McIlroy could have flinched.

Instead, he blew everyone away.

With a stunning display down the stretch, including a pair of eagles, McIlroy put a stranglehold on his third major championship by shooting a 4-under 68 Saturday, sending him to the final round of the British Open with a daunting six-shot edge.

McIlroy came into the day up by four after back-to-back 66s, only to start slowly and find himself tied for the top spot when Rickie Fowler birdied seven of the first 12 holes.

But, in a lightning-quick turnaround, McIlroy rolled in a 35-foot birdie at the 14th and an eagle at the 16th. Fowler bogeyed both holes, a five-shot swing in just under an hour.

When McIlroy made another eagle at the 18th after what he called “my two best shots of the day,” he pushed his score to 16-under 200 and seized the largest 54-hole Open lead since Tiger Woods was six strokes ahead at St. Andrews in 2000.

No one has ever blown such a big advantage on the final day of golf’s oldest major championship.

“I felt Rickie close to me,” McIlroy said. ” I was able to turn it on when I needed to.”

That burst pushed him another step closer to the career Grand Slam at the tender age of 25. Boy Wonder already captured the 2011 U.S. Open and the 2012 PGA Championship, both in eight-shot runaways.

This is looking very much like another blowout.

“Obviously, it would be nice going to Augusta next year trying to complete” a Grand Slam, McIlroy said. “I’ve got a lot to play for tomorrow. It’s a huge day for me.”

Fowler settled for a 68 and a 206 total. Sergio Garcia shot 69 and was another shot back at 207, along with Dustin Johnson.