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The Open: Rory McIlroy In Control After Third Round At Hoylake (PHOTOS)

LOOK: Golf Fans Take Good Old British Weather In Their Stride At The Open
The Huffington Post UK/PA
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The predicted thunderstorms failed to materialise, but Rory McIlroy provided plenty of fireworks to take a stranglehold on the 143rd Open Championship at Royal Liverpool.

A "significant risk" of storms and an amber weather warning led the R&A to employ a two-tee start for the first time in championship history on Saturday, with play getting under way at 9am from the first and 10th tee.

But with perfect timing a spell of heavy rain ended in time for the leaders to tee off and returned as McIlroy gave his post-round press conference after repelling a spirited challenge from fellow 25-year-old Rickie Fowler with two eagles in the last three holes.

A round of 68 gave McIlroy a 16-under-par total of 200 - just two shots outside the all-time Open record set by Tom Lehman in 1996 - and a six-shot lead over Fowler, who also returned a 68. Spain's Sergio Garcia and American Dustin Johnson were a shot further back on nine under.

McIlroy will now attempt to become the second wire-to-wire winner of a major in succession after Martin Kaymer won the US Open at Pinehurst last month by eight shots, the same margin by which McIlroy won the 2011 US Open and 2012 US PGA Championship.

Before tomorrow's climax though, enjoy some photos of the fans taking the good old British weather in their stride.

All Weathers At The Open
(01 of22)
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Tiger Woods of the US stands in the rain on the 14th green during a practice round at Royal Liverpool Golf Club prior to the start of the British Open Golf Championship, in Hoylake, England, Saturday, July 12, 2014. The 2014 Open Championship starts on Thursday, July 17. (AP Photo/Jon Super) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
(02 of22)
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The sun rises over the clubhouse during day one of the 2014 Open Championship at Royal Liverpool Golf Club, Hoylake. (credit:Peter Byrne/PA Wire)
(03 of22)
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The sun rises over the 18th hole during day one of the 2014 Open Championship at Royal Liverpool Golf Club, Hoylake. (credit:Owen Humphreys/PA Wire)
(04 of22)
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A spectator walks the course on the opening day of the 2014 British Open Golf Championship at Royal Liverpool Golf Course in Hoylake, north west England on July 17, 2014. AFP PHOTO / PAUL ELLIS (Photo credit should read PAUL ELLIS/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:PAUL ELLIS via Getty Images)
(05 of22)
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HOYLAKE, ENGLAND - JULY 17: General View of spectators during the first round of The 143rd Open Championship at Royal Liverpool on July 17, 2014 in Hoylake, England. (Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images) (credit:Stuart Franklin via Getty Images)
(06 of22)
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Spectators make the most of the hot weather during day one of the 2014 Open Championship at Royal Liverpool Golf Club, Hoylake. (credit:Owen Humphreys/PA Wire)
(07 of22)
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A man takes a nap next to the course in the hot weather during day one of the 2014 Open Championship at Royal Liverpool Golf Club, Hoylake. (credit:David Davies/PA Wire)
(08 of22)
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Spectators queue for an ice cream in the hot weather during day one of the 2014 Open Championship at Royal Liverpool Golf Club, Hoylake. (credit:David Davies/PA Wire)
(09 of22)
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Spectators wearing fancy dress are seen on the course on day two of the 2014 British Open Golf Championship at Royal Liverpool Golf Course in Hoylake, north west England on July 18, 2014. AFP PHOTO / PAUL ELLIS (Photo credit should read PAUL ELLIS/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:PAUL ELLIS via Getty Images)
(10 of22)
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Brandt Snedeker of the US walks past a digital sign showing a weather warning on the second day of the British Open Golf championship at the Royal Liverpool golf club, Hoylake, England, Friday July 18, 2014. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
(11 of22)
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Crowd walk across a fairway sheltering from the rain during day three of the 2014 Open Championship at Royal Liverpool Golf Club, Hoylake. (credit:David Davies/PA Wire)
(12 of22)
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Spectators shelter from the heavy rain in the stands of the 1st hole as USA's Phil Mickelson tees off during day three of the 2014 Open Championship at Royal Liverpool Golf Club, Hoylake. (credit:Owen Humphreys/PA Wire)
(13 of22)
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Spectators shelter from the rain during day three of the 2014 Open Championship at Royal Liverpool Golf Club, Hoylake. (credit:Owen Humphreys/PA Wire)
(14 of22)
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Rain bounces off Jason Dufner of the US as he plays a shot off the 4th tee during the third day of the British Open Golf championship at the Royal Liverpool golf club, Hoylake, England, Saturday July 19, 2014. (AP Photo/Jon Super) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
(15 of22)
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HOYLAKE, ENGLAND - JULY 19: View of a weather warning during the third round of The 143rd Open Championship at Royal Liverpool on July 19, 2014 in Hoylake, England. (Photo by Matthew Lewis/Getty Images) (credit:Matthew Lewis via Getty Images)
(16 of22)
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In this composite image a comparison has been made between the contrasting effects of the rainfall effecting the Royal Liverpool Golf Course,Hoylake at the 2006 (L) and 2014 Open Championships (R). Before the 2006 Open Championships between November 2004 and July 2006, 17 months from this time period had below average rainfall, before the 2014 Open Championship the winter of 2013/14 was the wettest on record. (credit:Getty Images via Getty Images)
(17 of22)
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Spectators make their way through the course in wet weather before the start of play during day three of the 2014 Open Championship at Royal Liverpool Golf Club, Hoylake. (credit:Owen Humphreys/PA Wire)
(18 of22)
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Crowd sit at the top of a stand in the wet weather during day three of the 2014 Open Championship at Royal Liverpool Golf Club, Hoylake. (credit:David Davies/PA Wire)
(19 of22)
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HOYLAKE, ENGLAND - JULY 19: View of open signage and the 1st tee marker as rain falls during the third round of The 143rd Open Championship at Royal Liverpool on July 19, 2014 in Hoylake, England. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) (credit:Mike Ehrmann via Getty Images)
(20 of22)
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HOYLAKE, ENGLAND - JULY 19: Golf fans shelter under umbrellas as rain falls during the third round of The 143rd Open Championship at Royal Liverpool on July 19, 2014 in Hoylake, England. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) (credit:Mike Ehrmann via Getty Images)
(21 of22)
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Spectators wearing fancy dress watch the golf on day three of the 2014 British Open Golf Championship at Royal Liverpool Golf Course in Hoylake, north west England on July 19, 2014. AFP PHOTO / PETER MUHLY (Photo credit should read PETER MUHLY/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:PETER MUHLY via Getty Images)
(22 of22)
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Spectators wear water-proof clothing as it rains on day three of the 2014 British Open Golf Championship at Royal Liverpool Golf Course in Hoylake, north west England on July 19, 2014. AFP PHOTO / PETER MUHLY (Photo credit should read PETER MUHLY/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:PETER MUHLY via Getty Images)
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