McIlroy shines as Kaymer eyes Tiger's No.2 spot

Firstly, it still left second-placed McIlroy with a five-stroke deficit. And secondly, the man he is chasing is course specialist Martin Kaymer.

First, second and first the last three years - and with only one bogey in his last 79 holes - the 26-year-old German is now odds-on to take the world No.2 spot off Tiger Woods in fitting style.

Far from being troubled by McIlroy's closing burst for a joint best-of-the-day 65, Kaymer birdied both holes for a 66 and hugely impressive 18 under par total.

"Everybody knows Rory is one of the best players in the world - but I am not too bad either!" said last season's European Tour No.1 and winner of golf's last major championship.

If McIlroy, third last year, does win he could leap from 12th in the world to a best-ever fourth - and back ahead of his compatriot and Ryder Cup partner Graeme McDowell.

The US Open champion resumed in third place, but a 71 saw him slip to joint sixth, nine adrift of Kaymer, who needs only a top seven finish to put Woods down to third in the rankings for the first time since October 2004.

And he also looks like biting a sizeable chunk out of the gap between himself and Lee Westwood at the top.

Having made the cut with nothing to spare at level par, Westwood added only a 73 and will resume joint 65th of the 70 remaining players.

Colin Montgomerie was hoping for his first top ten since June 2008, but with a 75 slumped from 11th to 48th.

And a 72 meant Masters champion Phil Mickelson dropped from 25th to 39th. He could be as low as seventh in the world tonight.

n Scotland's Martin Laird carded the joint-lowest round of the day to move within two shots of the lead in the Bob Hope Classic in the United States.

After consecutive rounds of 68, Laird fired a flawless 64 on the Palmer Course at PGA West, one of four courses used for the 90-hole event.

Six birdies and an eagle lifted Laird to 16 under par and outright fourth, two shots behind leaders Jhonattan Vegas and Gary Woodland.