Thongchai takes French Open lead from McIlroy

SAINT-QUENTIN-EN-YVELINES, France: Thongchai Jaidee will take a two-shot lead into the final round of the 100th French Open at Golf National, while a birdie blitz kept Rory McIlroy in contention on Saturday.

Thailand’s Thongchai had three birdies in a bogey-free third round of 68 to sit atop the leaderboard ahead of McIlroy and Jeunghun Wang on eight under par.

Four-time major champion McIlroy played the back nine in a stunning total of just 30 strokes to recover from a nightmare start and card a one-under-par 70. Thongchai started the day in a five-way tie for first with McIlroy, Wang, Brandon Stone and Finn Mikko Ilonen on five under par. The 46-year-old rolled in back-to-back birdies on the sixth and seventh holes to get to seven under, and added one more on the par-three 11th.

The seven-time European Tour winner is on track to claim his first title of a season in which he is yet to post a top-10 finish.

McIlroy looked to have played himself out of the tournament after three bogeys and a double bogey on the front nine, but produced fireworks in the closing stages of his round.