Rory McIlroy’s frustration at letting the WGC-Cadillac Championship slip away was a timely reminder of how difficult it will be to complete the career Grand Slam at the Masters.

The Rory bounce is back — and with good reason.

After firing a bogey free 68 — the second best score of the day — to take a three stroke lead into the final round of the WGC-Cadillac Championship at Trump National Doral, 26 year old McIlroy can take a big step forward on the road to Masters glory.

Butch Harmon gave Newstalk's Off The Ball some juicy pre-Masters chat, covering the world No 1's love the gym, Tiger Woods and the form of clients Adam Scott, Dustin Johnson, Rickie Fowler and Jimmy Walker.

Rory McIlroy needs an extraordinary final round if he's to successfully defend the Emirates Australian Open in Sydney. Even taking into account the incredible feats performed by the Co Down man this year, it would take something very special for him to get out of jail this time.

He only had five pars on his card but defending champion Rory McIlroy is lurking ominously just a stroke behind two time champion Greg Chalmers at the Emirates Australian Open. 

As Adam Scott faltered and Matt Every nipped in to snatch the Arnold Palmer Invitational, Ireland's Graeme McDowell and Pádraig Harrington slipped away from Bay Hill with very different feelings about their weekends.

Pádraig Harrington's slim hopes of booking his Masters ticket with a win in the Arnold Palmer Invitational evaporated with a one over 73 at Bay Hill on Saturday.

Opening with a pair of 70s around Bay Hill would normally leave Pádraig Harrington feeling reasonably content. Just not this year.

Graeme McDowell might have holed a monster 75-footer for eagle in his 68 but Pádraig Harrington showed he can still putt a bit as he opened with a scrambling 70 in the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill.

Adam Scott likes to surf but he could end up in Rory McIlroy's wake when he returns after a six-week break at next month's Honda Classic.

Rory McIlroy might have remained sixth in the world but his dramatic final hole victory in the Emirates Australian Open in what was his last full start of a fraught season may well go down as one of the most significant of his career.