World number three Rory McIlroy bounced back from a first bogey of the week to maintain his bid for a fourth win of the year in the Turkish Airlines Open on Saturday.
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“They’re as stress-free two 67s as I have shot all year”, said McIlroy, who has yet to drop a shot in the tournament.
Howell mirrored his start on the back nine from day one, where he started his first round, with back-to-back birdies on the 10th and 11th holes.
“The eagle on 13 was the spark that I needed to get myself up the leaderboard”, Northern Irishman McIlroy told reporters at the $7-million European Tour event.
McIlroy was just one under for the round until he showed his class with an eagle at the 13th after landing his second shot inside three feet, then rolling in a 25-footer to birdie the next hole and picking up another shot at 18.
McIlroy was happy to rally to the finish after a sluggish start.
Victor Dubuisson and Jaco van Zyl share the leader at 16 under par, while McIlroy hit a third round 67, alongside Armenian Kiradech Aphibarnrat.
Jaco van Zyl held on to the lead at the Turkish Airlines Open by shooting a 3-under 69 in the second round Friday despite struggling on the back nine.
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“I feel if I play the same way and execute a little bit better”, he said, “there’s definitely a lower score out there for me”.
