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Shanghai - US Open champion Rory McIlroy increased his lead to three strokes after shooting a 7-under 65 in the third round of the Shanghai Masters on Saturday.
The 22-year-old Northern Irishman made seven birdies in another bogey-free round on the Jack Nicklaus-designed course at Lake Malaren on the outskirts of Shanghai to total 18-under 198.
McIlroy is a step closer to the tournament's $2 million first-place prize money, the richest in golf and bigger than the $1.44 million he pocketed for winning the US Open in June.
Anthony Kim of the United States moved up a spot to second after hitting three consecutive birdies to close out the front nine and another four on the back nine to match McIlroy's 65. His only misstep was a bogey on the 18th hole.
Kim, a three-time winner on the PGA Tour, is looking for his first victory of the year. His best finish was a share of fifth place at the British Open.
South Korea's Noh Seung-yul was one stroke behind Kim at 14 under after following up his second-round 63 with a 67.
Ian Poulter (67) and Hunter Mahan (68) were next at 11 under. Second-ranked Lee Westwood (70) and Geoff Ogilvy (66) were at 7 under, followed by Robert Karlsson (72), Padraig Harrington (73) and YE Yang (68) at 6 under.
Louis Oosthuizen of South Africa, who started the day equal third, had a terrible round in the overcast conditions, hitting four bogeys and a double bogey on the par-5 13th hole for a 76. The 2010 British Open champion fell to joint 12th at 4 under.
There are 30 players competing in the lucrative invitational tournament, being held for the first year. All the top players are receiving appearance money, and last place pays $25 000. Because the International Management Group-run event isn't sanctioned by a major tour, it doesn't have world-ranking points.
Leading second round scores from the unsanctioned $5 million Lake Malaren Shanghai Masters in Shanghai on Saturday:
(par 72)
198 - Rory McIlroy (NIR) 64-69-65
201 - Anthony Kim (USA) 68-68-65
202 - Noh Seung-Yul (KOR) 72-63-67
205 - Ian Poulter (ENG) 67-71-67, Hunter Mahan (USA) 65-72-68
209 - Geoff Ogilvy (AUS) 73-70-66, Lee Westwood (ENG) 69-70-70
210 - Y.E.Yang (KOR) 69-73-68, Robert Karlsson (SWE) 69-69-72, Padraig Harrington (IRE) 67-70-73
211 - John Daly (USA) 69-70-72
