Rory McIlroy chasing the Storm in South Africa

Rory McIlroy will have to overturn a three-shot deficit if he is to get 2017 off to a winning start at the BMW SA Open in Gauteng.
Rory McIlroy hits his second shot on the first hole during day three of the BMW SA Open. Picture: David Cannon/Getty ImagesRory McIlroy hits his second shot on the first hole during day three of the BMW SA Open. Picture: David Cannon/Getty Images
Rory McIlroy hits his second shot on the first hole during day three of the BMW SA Open. Picture: David Cannon/Getty Images

The world No.2 overcame a back problem to fire a 67 in round three at Glendower Golf Club but that was not enough to close the gap on England’s Graeme Storm, who also shot a 67 to move to 17 under.

Scotland’s David Drysdale , inset, slipped off the pace a little despite a one-under-par round of 71. The Cocksburnpath man had a birdie at the second and a bogey at the fourth but then hit an eagle at eight. Two bogeys in his inward half took the shine off things but there was also a birdie at 13. Drysdale is tied for 16th place, seven shots off the pace.

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A win for Storm would represent a remarkable comeback for a player who lost his European Tour card by just €100 83 days ago but was handed a reprieve when United States Ryder Cup star Patrick Reed failed to play enough events.

England’s Jordan L Smith has won the EuroPro Golf Tour and the Challenge Tour in the last two seasons and is enjoying his debut campaign on the European Tour, sitting at 13 under alongside South African Jbe Kruger.

McIlroy twice caught Storm yesterday, firstly when birdies on the second and eighth sandwiched a stunning eagle from 157 yards on the par-four seventh and again when he made a hat-trick of gains from the 11th.

A bogey on the last stalled McIlroy’s progress but Storm was a picture of consistency, making birdies on the four par-fives and the seventh as he extended his bogey-free run to 41 holes.

“I am just really pleased that I kept the momentum from yesterday and played really nicely and holed some good putts,” Storm said.

“I find myself now in a position that I have only been in a couple of times over the past few years. Things have been difficult and last year was a tough year but it has given me a new lease of life and I hope to continue playing well.

“I thought I had lost my card and all of the privileges that come from playing on the European Tour and when that happens you realise that you can’t afford to lose it.”

McIlroy added: “I’d like to be a few shots better or at least a few shots closer to the lead. Hopefully I can get off to a good start tomorrow and put a bit of pressure on Graeme and it will be interesting.”