Nor is it either of his nearest competitors: Tom Gillis, a self-described journeyman who has six top-10 finishes and no victories in 120 PGA Tour starts, and the rookie Harris English, who matched McIlroy’s four-under-par 66 for Saturday’s low round at the Honda Classic. English and Gillis are two strokes behind McIlroy, who has a 54-hole total of 11-under 199. History and humidity — thunderstorms are in the forecast, moving up the tee times — will turn the course into a sweatbox for Sunday’s final round. For the second consecutive week, McIlroy can ascend to No. 1 in the world with a victory. At 22 years 10 months, he would not be the youngest man to reach golf’s summit; that distinction belongs to Tiger Woods, who was 21 years 6 months when he arrived there in 1997. The top ranking is no trifling achievement at any age. Those who have been as close as McIlroy but have yet to get there include Phil Mickelson, who had the No. 1 ranking seemingly in his grasp for several months after his 2010 Masters victory. “It’s nice to have the lead going into tomorrow, no doubt,” McIlroy said, adding, “I definitely feel like I need to put the No. 1 ranking out of my mind tomorrow. It might creep in every now and again. If you can keep it out of your mind the majority of the time, it’s the best thing to do.” Woods, who has won 71 tour titles, including 14 majors, was nine strokes behind McIlroy after his third-round 69. Asked how McIlroy, the United States Open champion, compares with his 22-year-old self, Woods said, “I was making some changes in my game at 22.” He added: “I think I only won, what, once that year, and then once in the beginning of ’99 somewhere. But then I got rolling at the end of ’99 from May on. So 23, 24, I had some pretty good years there.” So what does Woods make of McIlroy’s game at 22? “He’s still learning,” Woods said. “He’s developed a lot but also he’s got a lot to learn, too, which anyone that age, they are.” Woods, who is in search of his first official tour victory since 2009, has been waylaid this week by the two par-5 holes, where he has posted one birdie (to McIlroy’s five). McIlroy said, “I feel like the way I’m playing is the way I envision myself going out there and playing a round of golf.” He added: “And it seems like every time I go out there I play the way I want to and it’s a great feeling. Hopefully I can keep it going for a while.” Dicky Pride, 42, who was paired with McIlroy on Saturday, said he saw no weaknesses in McIlroy’s game. “It’s really obvious why he won a U.S. Open,” said Pride, who was tied for seventh, five shots behind McIlroy. “He hits it long. He hits it straight. He hits it so well. He has a wonderful short game. He seems unflappable.”
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