McIlroy struggles in the land of the Sphinx

CHALLENGE TOUR:RORY McILROY signed for a one-under-par 71 at the Egyptian Open yesterday for a share of 22nd place and trails the leader by six shots.

Alessandro Tadini of Italy produced a brilliant seven-under 65 to take the lead at the penultimate event of the Challenge Tour season. The Italian, like many others, is seeking a good result to boost his chances of winning a place on next year’s European Tour as one of the top-20 players.

Tadini is 23rd on the Challenge Tour and could seal his card by winning the €29,000 first prize on offer at the JW Marriott Mirage City Golf Club outside Cairo before the season finale in his homeland next week.

Eight birdies and just a single dropped shot saw Tadini establish a two-stroke lead over Switzerland’s Julien Clément, Scotland’s George Murray and Dutchman Floris de Vries.

McIlroy struggled for most of the round but managed to give the crowds a glimpse of his class at the end. Two over par with three holes to play, the Northern Irishman birdied his way home to move to one under and keep himself well in contention with 54 holes to play.

“The first nine holes were probably the worst nine holes I have played all year,” said the 21-year-old. “I hit two fairways and three greens, which tells the story really – I think I had 14 putts on the front nine for one over and got up and down from a flowerbed on the ninth, so you are probably getting the picture there.

“I spent two hours on the range this morning working on the changes I have been trying to make to my swing, but I didn’t quite trust it on the course. I am working on my take-away and the way I am setting it on the way back. The club was getting inside on the way back, so my left arm was getting away from me, and then on the way down I was coming over the plane so everything was going left.

“It is always the case when you are trying to make a change that the last place it comes good is on the golf course, but I stuck with it on the back nine, played a bit better and made three nice birdies to finish, which was great. I’m happy to shoot one under as it could have been worse.”

Colm Moriarty carded a level par 72, but Gary Murphy crashed to a 78 – after double bogeys on the 11th and 17th.