Teenager Rory McIlroy will celebrate with a guided tour of Old Trafford courtesy of Sir Bobby Charlton if he can win his first European Tour title in the Dunhill Links Championship.
McIlroy went into the third round just one shot off the lead held by Austria's Markus Brier after a superb round of 69 at Carnoustie, where he finished leading amateur in the Open Championship last year.
The 19-year-old from Northern Ireland has been paired with United and England legend Charlton in the pro-am event played at St Andrews, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns, and the Red Devils fan has his sights set on a trip to Manchester in the near future.
"I've been to Old Trafford five times this year. I don't get along as much as I would like but Sir Bobby has invited me," said McIlroy, who finished third in this event last year in just his second event after turning professional, earning enough money to secure his European Tour card for 2008.
"He said he would take me round the ground and the dressing rooms so that would be great. I've never been to a Champions League match so hopefully I'll get along on a Wednesday."
McIlroy looked set to win his maiden title in the Omega European Masters at the start of last month, taking a four-shot lead into the final round only to eventually lose out to Jean-Francois Lucquin in a play-off.
But the former European amateur champion is taking inspiration from two-time Open winner Padraig Harrington, who famously has almost 30 runner-up finishes on tour.
"Padraig called me over on Wednesday and said 'hard luck' and that he knew how it felt, we've all blown tournaments that we should have won," McIlroy added.
"He's been second on tour 29 times and learnt how to win. He hasn't had a second place for three years. He told me to keep getting experience, get yourself up there again and you'll win.
"The more you are there the more you will learn and you'll close it out."
McIlroy was one of just two players in the top 13 to play Carnoustie on Friday and has the advantage of playing Kingsbarns on Saturday, the easiest of the courses.
In contrast, leader Brier and the trio alongside McIlroy in second place - Ryder Cup team-mates Soren Hansen and Robert Karlsson and Germany's Martin Kaymer - have to tackle Carnoustie with bad weather forecast.
The same applied to Harrington and Lee Westwood, two off the lead on six under par and involved in a battle for the Order of Merit title.
Harrington currently leads by Ј180,000 from Westwood, who would have been Ј100,000 closer by beating Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano in a play-off for the Quinn Insurance British Masters at The Belfry on Sunday.
Karlsson is also in with a shout of lifting the Harry Vardon Trophy. The 6ft 5in Swede is third in the money list another Ј100,000 behind Westwood, but the first prize on Sunday is Ј432,000 and three other lucrative tournaments remain this season.
RORY’S SWISS MISS TOUGH TO FORGET
Investigators believe Jaguars’ Collier was targeted
Edwards back with Bills, likely to play Thursday
CAMPBELL SEEKING MORE SUCCESS
