McIlroy slips back in Hong Kong
World number two Rory McIlroy slid down the leaderboard at the Hong Kong Open but did rally to finish three shots off the lead.
McIlroy (pictured) started the day tied for the lead with Alvaro Quiros, but after missing a birdie chance on the third he found sand from the tee at the par-three fourth and his par putt from around 10 feet grazed the edge of the hole.
Worse was to follow for the 22-year-old, as his drive at the fifth ended behind a tree and, after chipping onto the fairway, his third shot missed the green. However, the US Open champion managed to get up and down to limit the damage to a bogey and drop to five under par, three shots off the lead, as he reached the turn in 37. He managed two birdies, on the 13th and the 17th, to add a 33 and sign for a 70, his worst round this week, to leave him on seven under, three shots behind Quiros, who shot a 67 to leave him on ten under, one ahead of Swede Peter Hanson.
Ian Poulter was four under overall thanks to five birdies and two bogeys, with another birdie chance at the last slipping away.
Poulter said: "This week is as tough as the course has played, and the reason is because the greens are very fast."
McIlroy's management team, meanwhile, are locked in a battle with Chinese customs officials to release the US Open trophy he won earlier this year, so it can be taken to the season-ending Dubai World Championship next week.
McIlroy had been intending to showcase the trophy that he won in June during his final six tournaments of the year, starting at the Shanghai Masters in late October.
Chinese customs officials, however, impounded the trophy when no one was at the course to receive it. "They still won't give it to us," said Conor Ridge of Horizon Sports, who represent McIlroy.
