RORY McIlroy remained the man to beat heading into the closing stages of the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open, but a combination of Russell Knox and more bad weather was not making it easy for the tournament host.
McIlroy had missed the cut in his home event for the last three years, but completed an error-free 70 in the weather-delayed third round on Sunday to claim a three-shot lead over Masters champion Danny Willett at The K Club.
And, although Willett's challenge stalled in the final round with eight successive pars, Knox had closed to within a shot of McIlroy's lead before a torrential downpour - including hailstones - forced play to be suspended.
Knox, who was using a driver borrowed from Sweden's David Lingmerth after cracking the face of his own club on Thursday, missed good birdie chances on the first two holes before holing from 20 feet for eagle on the fourth.
Playing partner McIlroy birdied the same hole to retain his three-shot advantage before Knox birdied the fifth to reduce the gap, with both players then dropping a shot on the sixth.
McIlroy almost span his approach off the green and into the water before missing from six feet for par, and although Knox then three-putted, the Scot quickly made amends with a birdie on the eighth.
At nine under par McIlroy led by one from Knox, with Welshman Bradley Dredge another shot behind after carding four birdies in the first 10 holes, with Willett another stroke back alongside Ryder Cup hero Jamie Donaldson.
