SEOUL, October 19, 2013 (AFP) - Former world number one Rory McIlroy shot himself out of contention in the third round on Saturday at the Kolon Korea Open.
The two-time major champion struck a four-over 75 at the par-71 Woo Jeong Hills Country Club, south of Seoul.
The Northern Irish star, the marquee attraction at the $1 million OneAsia event, had three bogeys and one double bogey along with a lone birdie, falling to one-over 214 for the tournament.
He began the day tied for fifth, but ended it tied for 13th, 10 strokes behind the leader Kim Hyung-Tae of South Korea.
"I had a good feeling about this week," Kim said. "I am playing with confidence."
At 204, he holds a four-stroke lead over compatriot Hong Soon-Sang, the second-round leader who shot an even 71 on Saturday.
South Korean Mo Joong-kyung is another shot behind at four-under 209.
Defending champion Kim Dae-Sub reached three-under thanks to a bogey-free 68 on Saturday.
Five other South Koreans were tied at two-under on a leader board dominated by the locals.
McIlroy, who had a month-long break before kicking off his Asian swing here, had been hoping to pick up his first win of 2013 at the South Korean national championship.
He went out in an even 36 after trading in a birdie with a bogey and then the bottom fell out on the back nine.
He had a double bogey on the par-4 10th, and a bogey on the par-4 11th. Another bogey on the par-4 15th was his final undoing.
"I wanted to come here and play. It's nothing about trying to build confidence or anything like that," McIlroy said. "I guess more than anything else I wanted to shake the rust off this week and try and get into contention -- and obviously try to win."
Leading scores after the third round of the Kolon Korea Open in South Korea.
204 - Kim Hyung-Tae (KOR) 72-66-66
208 - Hong Soon-Sang (KOR) 69-68-71
209 - Mo Joong-kyung (KOR) 72-69-68
210 - Kim Dae-Sub (KOR) 69-73-68
211 - Park Il-Hwan (KOR) 77-68-66, Kang Ji-Man (KOR) 71-71-69, Ryu Hyun-Woo (KOR) 69-72-70, Maeng Dong-Seop (KOR) 70-70-71, Kang Sung-Hoon (KOR) 68-70-73