Rory McIlroy leads by three shots in Shanghai Masters

Rory McIlroy leads by three shots in Shanghai

Rory McIlroy fired a third-round 65 to open up a three-stroke lead over American Anthony Kim at the Lake Malaren Shanghai Masters.

The US Open champion, who changed management stables just over a week ago, stands 18 under par and on course for the record £1.25m winner's cheque.

Korean Noh Seung-yul is third on 14 under, with Ian Poulter and Hunter Mahan tied for fourth on 11 under.

World number two Lee Westwood is sixth on seven under after a round of 70.

McIlroy is trying to complete a start-to-finish victory just as he did for his first major title in June.

The Northern Ireland player turned in 32 with birdies at the first, third, seventh and ninth - the hole he double-bogeyed in his second-round 69.

The 22-year-old world number three then picked up more shots at the 13th, 15th and 16th as he completed a bogey-free round.

Kim, who failed to retain his Ryder Cup place last year after undergoing thumb surgery, matched McIlroy's round, but made his final day task all the tougher by finishing with a bogey.

Twenty-year-old Noh trails McIlroy by four after shooting a 67 and there is then a further three-stroke gap to England's Ian Poulter, also round in 67.

Westwood is alongside Australian Geoff Ogilvy in sixth place, but 11 shots off the lead.

Padraig Harrington, Colin Montgomerie and Paul Casey all disappointed with 73s.

Harrington dropped to eighth, Montgomerie to 12th and Casey to 17th in the 30-strong line-up.