AUGUSTA, Georgia (AFP) — Rory McIlroy survived multiple assaults on his Masters lead in yesterday’s third round to emerge four strokes clear of the field.

That put him in pole position to become the first Irishman to win the Masters, the first European since Jose Maria Olazabal in 1999 and, at 21 years and 11 months, the secondyoungest winner behind only Tiger Woods in 1997.

The Ulsterman battled hard all day for a two-under 70 that put him at 12-under par, four strokes clear of a international quartet consisting of Jason Day, Angel Cabrera, Charl Schwartzel and KJ Choi.

A stroke further back on five-under came Adam Scott and Luke Donald with Bo Van Pelt the leading Americans at six-under.

Woods, meanwhile, endured a torrid day on the greens with several lip-outs and near misses that had him shaking his head in despair as he had to settle for a 74 and a five-under total.

He trailed McIlroy by seven strokes in a tie for ninth place, which left his hopes of winning a first major since 2008 in tatters.