WATCH: Eagle highlight as Rory McIlroy continues to dream of Portrush Open glory with thousands cheering on every moment

McIlroy’s Saturday had a little bit of everything, but ultimately, he carded a third round of 66 to finish on -8 for the day.

The daunting opening hole has previously caused McIlroy problems – his quadruple bogey in 2019 all but ended hopes of glory – but he has banished those demons and for the second straight day picked up a crucial shot.

With fans flocked either side of the fairway and those in the local caravan park making good use of their perfect vantage point, McIlroy struck his tee shot sweetly and was greeted by cheers of ‘come on Rory’ from all generations as he walked towards his ball.

McIlroy has spoken this week about looking to embrace every moment, and he certainly did that on Saturday, taking in the praise and responding with subtle waves to the crowd.

The 36-year-old sank a mammoth 36-foot putt on a hole which is playing as the third most difficult according to NTT Data – the ball was willed in by thousands, who celebrated in fine style as it dropped.

It’s an important start as McIlroy looks to chase down Scottie Scheffler – the American began today with a seven-shot advantage over the Northern Irish ace but has since been joined by England’s Matthew Fitzpatrick, who eagled the second.

Conversations wildly swung as McIlroy made his way up the first with one fan saying before the tee shot that “Scheffler will be too good this weekend” while closer to the green one feels “a big round will put him in contention tomorrow”.

"Now that is the way you want to start your third round!” said the commentators on Sky Sports. “Rory McIlroy in from range at the opening hole.

"That’s going to get the crowd fired up more than they already are!

“We asked if he’d pass the test on hole one and his fan club there are all loving it. It must have been the message by the side of the first green, exhilarating start from McIlroy.

"We talked about how difficult this putt is...birdie start for McIlroy. The thrill of a home crowd, there’ll be nothing quite like it for him and he will love every part of it.”

McIlroy ultimately enjoyed a flawless front-nine, picking up three birdies in his opening four holes, and was unlucky not to seal an eagle at the second with his putt ultimately coming up inches short.

He wasn’t able to build on that momentum, carding five consecutive pars to round out his opening nine holes, turning onto the back-nine trailing leading duo Scheffler and Fitzpatrick by four shots.

After carding a par at the 10th, McIlroy had drama at the next as his tee-shot went into the rough on the right-hand side. A bizarre incident would then unfold when he hit out of the rough and dislodged a previously-buried ball, a bogey meant his challenge appeared to have stalled.

However, there would be huge roars at the 12th as McIlroy sunk a massive eagle putt to move back to -7 as Scheffler extended his lead to -13.

Consecutive pars at 13 and 14 would follow before further drama as McIlroy’s approach into 15 hit the pin – but he would sink his birdie attempt to move to -8.

As massive crowds followed McIlroy down the final three holes, he would par the 16th and 17th – with fans bellowing “Come on, Rory” at every opportunity.

Getting a good view of McIlroy was hard to get as he made his way down the last. A good tee shot wasn’t rewarded as he sent his second to the back of the green. However, he was able to get up and down for his par to finish on -8.

Scheffler moved to 14 under.

A round full of birdies tomorrow is certainly required if McIlroy is to win on home soil.

However, the Northern Irishman’s six-shot deficit may be too far back even for someone who completed the career Grand Slam at the Masters earlier this year, considering the quality of his quarry.

McIlroy’s description of Scheffler as “inevitable” summed up the situation perfectly, as while the American was not as spectacular as he was on Friday in assuming the lead, his progress to a 67 and a four-shot advantage was serene.

Matt Fitzpatrick, who began the day one behind, briefly drew level after an eagle at the second but he was never able to edge himself in front, and every time he slipped up he was punished by his playing partner, either by moving another shot away or saving an unlikely par.

McIlroy mania reached its peak at the 17th. With his burnt orange shirt appearing red on television screens, the sight of him marching out of the packed gallery surrounded by thousands of fans was reminiscent of Tiger Woods.

The crowd were so ramped they went wild as he pitched 33 feet past the hole, offering little chance of birdie, but they believed – as they will continue to do on Sunday.

The Masters champion, however, is a little more realistic.

“Scottie Scheffler, he is inevitable. Even when he doesn’t have his best stuff he has become a compete player,” said McIlroy.

“It’s going to be tough to catch him tomorrow if he keeps playing the way he does, but if I can get out tomorrow with a similar start to today and get the crowd going, hopefully he feels that behind me – and you never know.”

Scheffler looks unshakeable, though. Already with a three-shot lead, he birdied the difficult Calamity Corner 16th for the third successive day and the gap was looking as big as the chasm in front of the par three.

China’s ultra-consistent Haotong Li is his closest challenger, with Fitzpatrick dropping back to nine under – where he started the round – having reached 11 under.

Scheffler reeled off six straight pars but still did not lose his overnight lead before a back-to-back eagle and birdie represented a gear shift.

His back nine included eight pars, and the kind of nerveless saves which have made him one of the most successful and consistent golfers of the last three years – closing out victory the last 10 times he has held the outright 54-hole leads.

“A lot of it is staying patient. I know what I need to do tomorrow and it is a matter of going out and doing it,” said Scheffler, whose three majors wins have all come leading after the third round.

“I’m not thinking about winning The Open when I go to sleep tonight.”

Englishman Tyrrell Hatton got himself to nine under but a bogey at the 16th halted his progress, while slightly further down the leaderboard 52-year-old compatriot Lee Westwood had a round of two halves, going out in 40 before an Open record-equalling 29 for the back nine.

“It was a good back nine, wasn’t it? I’d have taken 29 on the back nine stood on the 10th tee,” he said.

Defending champion Xander Schauffele, who started the day two under having been in danger of missing the cut until a birdie run on his Friday back nine, played the three par-fives in five under with two eagles on the back nine after a birdie at the second.

His 66 moved him to seven under but the two-time major winner accepts he is too far back.

“It would have to be a perfect storm situation, it doesn’t look like any of those boys up front are letting up,” he said.