Rory McIlroy left needing final round fireworks as poor finish leaves him five behind Ludvig Aberg in Scottish Open

The world number two made four birdies and a bogey to turn in 32, but he came home in level par as he followed a birdie at the 10th with three missed eight-footers in a row at the 15th, 16th and 17th before a loose second led to a closing bogey.

His three under 67 left him tied for eighth on 12 under, five shots behind Aberg, whose 65 gave him a two-shot lead on 17 under from home hope Robert MacIntyre, who posted a superb 63.

“You know, four under through ten today and then the birdies dried up,” said McIlroy, who fell further behind when Aberg birdied the 16th and 17th to separate himself at the top.

“I kept hitting good shots, especially on the last few holes but I missed three eight-footers on 15 16 and 17 for birdie and then bogeying the last. I’ve played the last four holes probably the worst that I could, which is unfortunate because I felt like I could have been right up there.

“I was at 15 under and around the lead and then to give one away at the last is disappointing.”

McIlroy was just three behind as he spoke but at five back, he knows he needs an even faster start today than he envisaged if he’s to make history by becoming the first player to retain the title.

“I think it’s sort of similar to what Bob did today,” he said of MacIntyre, who was five under after seven holes. “You know, you get off to a good start and you sort of try to ride that momentum.

“I didn’t get off to quite as fast a start on the front nine as I did yesterday. But that’s what I’m going to need tomorrow.

“I’m going to need to be at least three under through five to get myself right up there on the leaderboard and then from there, just try to keep it going.

“I wish that I was two or three shots better off but it’s another opportunity to go out there and try to win a very prestigious tournament that’s got a lot of history.

Séamus Power saw his hopes of winning one of three spots in The Open evaporate when he carded a three-over 73 to slip to 71st on one under.

Meanwhile, Australia’s Stephanie Kyriacou carded a four under 67 to take a one-shot lead over American Lauren Coughlin and Japan’s Ayaka Furue into the final round of the Amundi Evian Championship.

The weather delayed second round was completed early in the morning with Leona Maguire, who finished on Friday, two shots outside the level par cut mark after a brace of 72s as Stephanie Meadow completed an 81 to miss out on 13-over.

Furue led by two strokes at halfway from Kyriacou and Thailand’s Patty Tatavanakit on 12 under.

But the Japanese star’s one under 70 was not enough to retain the lead.

Kyriacou shot a four under 67 to set the pace on 14 under as Coughlin eagled the 18th to shoot 65 and tie with Furue on 13 under.

In amateur golf, Ireland lost 5-2 to England in the bronze medal match at the European Ladies’ Amateur Team Championship to finish fourth in Madrid.

Germany beat France 4.5-2.5 to claim the title while Sweden beat the Netherlands 3-2 to take the men’s crown in Turin.

Ireland finished 13th, beating Scotland 3-2 in Flight B to avoid relegation to Division 2 next year.

France won the Boys title in Austria where Ireland were 13th while in the Girls’ Championship in Sweden, England beat Germany 3-2 to take the title as an already relegated Ireland beat Scotland 3-2 to finish 15th.