McIlroy three behind leader Romero at European Masters

Rory McIlroy starts a late season of European Tour appearances at the scenic Swiss event Omega European Masters third round leaderboard-14 A Romero (Arg); -13 W Ormsby (Aus); -12 G Green (Mas), T Fleetwood (Eng); -11 R McIlroy (NI), L Gagli (Ita), C Bezuidenhout (RSA), K Samooja (Fin); -10 S Garcia (Spa), M Schwab (Aut), R Paratore (Ita), S Soderberg (Swe) Selected others: -8 MA Jimenez (Spa); -7 E. Pepperell (Eng), R Fisher (Eng), L Westwood (Eng); Level C Wood (Eng), D HowellFull leaderboard

Rory McIlroy found water twice in the last five holes on day three at the European Masters in Switzerland to drop three behind leader Andres Romero.

McIlroy had the lead on 13 under after 13 holes for his poor finish.

At the last minute, he had to drill a 10 foot bogey putt after he found a greenside lake to finish 11 under a one-under-par 69 at Crans-sur-Sierre.

The Argentinian Romero leads Wade Ormsby with one in 14 under with Tommy Fleetwood and Gavin Green from Malaysia under 12 under.

After firing a nine-under-par 61 on Friday, Romero, now ranked 735th in the world, signed for a 66 after a series of three birdies and an eagle in four holes from the 13th.

Andres Romero is 168th in this year's Race to Dubai

Romero won his second European Tour title ten years after his first at the BMW International Open 2017, but has since then only one top 10 and is 168th in the Race to Dubai of this season.

The Australian Ormsby dropped one behind the Argentinian after a three-headed bogey and saw him score a 67 at the last time, while Fleetwood, looking for his first win of 2019, and Green both recovered from one arm fight.

World number two McIlroy was on track to take control of the tournament while playing his opening 13 holes in three under before firing a huge 415-yard drive on the par-five 14.

The Northern Irishman inexplicably leaked his second shot of 129 meters straight and into a green lake while hunting a dangerous pin.

After regrouping with a birdie on the par-five 15, McIlroy found bunkers of the tee on his last two holes as he flew his second shot out of the sand over the back of the 17th before he approached in the water finally.

McIlroy is in a group that shares fifth, including this year's Andalucia Masters winner, Christiaan Bezuidenhout from South Africa, and Kalle Samooja from Finland, who fired 62 on Saturday.

Sergio Garcia kept his hope alive by playing his last 12 holes on Saturday in seven to score a 66 when he finished four out of the pace.

Italy & Renato Paratore is also in 10th place in the group after a 67 that included a hole-in-one on the 13th.

Moe McIlroy has a good night's rest & # 39; needed

McIlroy won the Tour Championship in the US last Sunday to win a prize of £ 12.2 million and the Northern Irish felt the efforts during the play-offs on the PGA Tour overtook him on Saturday .

"I felt a little flat there. A little tired," McIlroy told Sky Sports.

"I look forward to going to bed early tonight and getting a good night's sleep.

" But I don't like it. If I can play a good front nine tomorrow, I'm still in good shape. "