Rory McIlroy suffers meltdown in the water at Cognizant Classic
Rory McIlroy makes a triple-bogey seven on 16 to fall out of contention on the PGA Tour.
Rory McIlroy fell out of contention in the third round of the Cognizant Classic at The Palm Beaches following a disastrous two-hole stretch on the feared Bear Trap at PGA National.
McIlroy had pulled to within two shots of the lead after making three birdies in the space of four holes to start the back nine.
But then disaster struck for the World No.2 as he made a bogey on the par-3 15th and a triple-bogey seven on the par-4 16th.
McIlroy had split the middle of the fairway on the 16th, the toughest hole on the course at PGA National.
But as the story has been for much of the week for McIlroy, he was errant with his approach shot and found the water well right of the green.
With his ball only just in the water, McIlroy carefully moved a rope and decided to play the shot in an attempt to salvage par.
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McIlroy took off his right sock and shoe and splashed his ball out.
Unfortunately the ball hit the bank in front of him and bounced back into the water.
McIlroy then took his drop from there, played his ball to 10 feet and then missed the putt.
It marked just the third triple-bogey seven on the 16th hole all week.
WATCH RORY MCILROY'S MELTDOWN HERE
Rory McIlroy unraveling at PGA National pic.twitter.com/60qCCZKMoP
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McIlroy then missed a short six-footer for birdie on the par-3 17th but he did birdie the par-5 18th to card a 1-over 72.
It leaves McIlroy on 7-under par for the tournament and six strokes off the pace currently set by Shane Lowry, Austin Eckroat and David Skinns.
Former Open champion Lowry carded a solid 5-under 66 to move to 13-under par and he was joined by America's Eckroat (68) and England's Skinns (66).
Australia's Min Woo Lee is also in contention on 10-under par after a 66.
Overnight leader Bud Cauley carded a lacklustre 74 to fall back into the pack on 8-under par.
