& # 039; Too many errors & # 039; hit McIlroy & # 039; s hopes for Augusta

& # 39; He has it & # 39; – McIlroy birdies fourth hole to move below par

2019 MastersDates: 11-14 April Location: Augusta NationalCoverage: watch uninterrupted live coverage on BBC Two, with up to four live streams online. Live radio and text commentary on BBC Radio 5 Live & the BBC Sport website. Full details

Rory McIlroy's hope for a first Masters title seems to be another year after the Northern Irishman had completed the third round at a game under

McIlroy, the three other majors of golf has won, flashes of form, but three bogeys in four holes on its outer nine derailed its challenge.

An eagle on the par-five 15th was flanked by birdies on the 13th and 16th as the 29-year-old moved to two below.

But he dropped another shot on the 18th and placed a one-under-par 71.

"Too many mistakes is the big thing," he told BBC Sport.

"I made the little birds and did the things that you need to do in this area, I just did not sail enough into the fairway to have control of these greens.

"I just have to keep playing until the end – I have another day to try and get myself into the rankings. "

Rory McIlroy struggles to explain Augusta's misery

It was a disappointing conclusion to a round that was promising after he paried the par-three fourth.

But after having worked up for a short time with a pulled tee shot on the sixth and missing a simple par-putt, he made it worse with another bogey on the seventh after being unable to go up and down from a greenside bunker.

A third pulled tee-shot on the par-five eighth dropped his ball against a tree and he was only able to hack the ball 50 meters above the fairway and ended up with a par.

The players look at the Augusta National par-five holes as the ones where they can clear the ground – in McIlroy & 38 Masters rounds for this week he was 61 down on the four longest holes. For comparison: he was 11 years old and 35 years old on the par fours.

McIlroy used the par fives of the second nine, with a birdie at 13, even though he retreated into the forest for another ride and then followed the 15th after a lush iron up to 10 feet.

But the hope of ending with two more birdies were hampered by more bad rides. He finished well, and in the woods at 17, before dragging his tee shot on the 18th in a fairway.