Surprising Hoey leads Dunhill Links, McDowell and McIlroy in pursuit

Michael Hoey moved closer to giving Northern Ireland another big golf victory, taking a three-shot lead Saturday after three rounds of the Dunhill Links Championship on the European Tour.

Hoey built on the second-round lead he shared with England's Tommy Fleetwood. He shot a 6-under 66 at Carnoustie that put him at 18-under 198 in the $5 million pro-celebrity tournament.

Northern Irishmen Graeme McDowell and Rory McIlroy -- winners of the last two U.S. Opens -- were in pursuit. McDowell had a third straight 67 and is in second place at 15 under.

"My short game was unbelievable, the best it's ever been," Hoey said. "I'm definitely getting all the breaks as well. Everything has just gone my way so far."

It wasn't all good news for the Northern Irish, however, with British Open champion Darren Clarke missing the cut at 5 under after a 70 left him 1 over.

Fifth-ranked Dustin Johnson of the United States -- second behind Clarke at Royal St. George's -- was the other high-profile name not to make Sunday's round after a 70 at St. Andrews left him 2 under.

Hoey, a former British Amateur champion ranked No. 271, is rarely mentioned in the same breath as his three compatriots.

"He's a supremely talented player, always has been," McIlroy said. "For him, it's been a mental thing, but he obviously has a clear head and is playing very well.

"It's a fine line between guys who go on to become the best in the world and guys who become journeymen pros. And you wouldn't say Michael is a journeyman, he's popped up twice and won on tour, and won well each time,” he added. "When he applies himself and puts it all together he's as good as anyone out there. Why he doesn't put it together more often, who knows?"

Hoey himself gave the answer to that question, admitting: "I've probably just been really hard on myself. Trying to relax is obviously what I need to do and I've done that well so far.

"Golf is very mental, you have to accept poor shots. It's great to be in the lead in a really big tournament but there's a long way to go. Everything went very well today. My short game was unbelievable, the best it's ever been."

McDowell was a stroke clear of South Africa's Louis Oosthuizen, who is alone in third after shooting 69 in his first competitive return to St. Andrews since his British Open triumph there last year.

McIlroy (66) was among a group of seven players at 13 under along with top-ranked Luke Donald and Simon Dyson, who both shot 63s at St. Andrews to equal McIlroy's course record set last year. Fleetwood was also 13 under after a 71 at Carnoustie.

With every member of the 168-man field having played the Old Course at St. Andrews, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns over the past three days, the 70 players to have made the cut will play St. Andrews again Sunday.

While Donald -- the leader of the money lists on both sides of the Atlantic -- birdied the last hole to match the course record, Dyson just missed shooting a 62 when his putt for a 10th birdie in his round came up 6 inches short at the last.

Despite the sunshine of the first two days giving way to damp, overcast conditions -- play was suspended for an hour at Kingsbarns due to fog -- low scoring was prevalent and the rounds of 63 from Donald and Dyson at St. Andrews equaled the course record for the extended layout set by McIlroy in the Open last year.

"I'm very, very happy with the day," said Dyson, who has climbed to 30th in the world rankings after two wins this year. "I didn't realize my birdie putt on the 18th was for the course record otherwise I might have hit it a bit harder. But Rory's is a good name to share the record with."

Dyson has won the Irish Open and the KLM Open this season and puts his improvement down to a renewed dedication to the game, which extends to becoming almost teetotal and hiring a full-time trainer.

"I'm going to be a dad in March so I said to my wife, 'you're not going to be drinking so I will give it a go with you'," the Yorkshireman added. "I'm quite enjoying how I'm feeling and the better results you get from doing this means there is no reason to change. Previously if I had a week off I would have a few nights out, but now I'm still practicing and training.

"I also saw a nutritionist the week after the Open and she has got me on all sorts of stuff,” he explained. “Fitness is a big part of the game and you notice it playing with amateurs this week. I'm not saying they are unfit, but they are struggling at the end of the round, whereas the top pros are making birdies and making their charges."

McIlroy was left ruing a number of chances which went begging in the latter stages of his 66, but added: "As long as the guys don't get too far ahead I think I have a chance."

As for Northern Ireland's success, he added: "I don't know what it is. I don't know if it's just coincidence or if we're feeding off each other.

"I don't think it will last forever, but I hope it does. It's just a period where we are all playing well together, although English guys are No. 1 and 2 in the world!"