27 Nov 2011

Ireland on top at golf World Cup

9:06 am on 27 November 2011

Ireland's Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell engineered a two-shot lead to put daylight between them and their rivals at the World Cup golf tournament at Mission Hills in China.

World No.2 McIlroy and 2010 US Open winner McDowell fired eight birdies in the fourballs third round to card a sterling eight-under 64 to remain top of the leaderboard on 21-under overall, nudging ahead of the sizzling German pairing of world No.4 Martin Kaymer and Alex Cejka, who holed 11 birdies in their ground-making 61.

Germany are tied second with big hitters South Africa and the United States on 19-under overall, while New Zealand players Gareth Paddison and Michael Hendry carded a four under 68 to be seven shots behind the leaders on 14-under overall and 12th equal.

Sunday's final round of the $10 million tournament will see a return to the tricky foursomes alternate shot format.