McIlroy only joined the paid ranks after playing in Britain and Ireland's narrow Walker Cup defeat in September, but was 42nd on his debut in the British Masters at The Belfry. The 18-year-old then turned in a stunning display to finish third in the Dunhill Links Championship on Sunday, a performance which all but secured his card for next season.

A few eyebrows might still have been raised when the teenager from Holywood, Co Down, spoke about targeting a maiden tournament victory this week, but that was a distinct possibility after a thirdround 66 in the Madrid Open at Club de Campo yesterday.

That gave McIlroy a share of third place with Spain's Alejandro Canizares on nine under par, four behind leader Daniel Vancsik of Argentina.

South African Dale Hayes was 18 years and 290 days old when he won the Spanish Open in 1971. McIlroy will be 18 years and 163 days old tomorrow. "I was six or seven behind going into the final round last week and almost caught up so if I can get off to another good start and put some pressure on you never know, " said McIlroy, who birdied his first three holes yesterday and picked up five more with just two bogeys.

"I know Sergio Garcia won (the Irish Open) on his fourth start as a professional and this is only my third, and if I can shoot another 66 tomorrow you never know what could happen. Everyone was saying I was one of the pre-tournament favourites here, which is pretty tough to live up to, but that was just because of how well I had played last week.

Luckily I have carried that form with me.

"I probably hit the ball as well as I have done for the last few months. It could have been better, could have been worse, but overall I think that 66 was a fair reflection of how I played."

Vancsik, winner of the Madeira Island Open in March, looked to be cruising to victory when he fired seven birdies in his first 13 holes to open up a five-shot lead on 15 under par.

But the 30-year-old then dumped his tee shot on the par-three 14th into the water guarding the green for a double bogey, and also bogeyed the next.

After a birdie on the 16th Vancsik also bogeyed the 17th but holed from 25 feet for birdie on the 18th for a 68 and two-shot lead over Denmark's Mads Vibe-Hastrup going into the final round.

With Angel Cabrera into the HSBC World Match Play Championship final at Wentworth and Argentina facing South Africa in the Rugby World Cup semi-finals today, this could be a great weekend for Argentinian sport.

"I would have taken 68 at the start of the day so I can't be too angry about the 14th, but it was a stupid mistake because the hole was playing easy today, " Vancsik said.

"I then made another stupid bogey on the next from the middle of the fairway but 68 is good and I was pleased to make that putt on the last.

Tomorrow could be a great day for Argentina and I hope I can be part of it."

At seven under, he was now six adrift of the impressive Vancsik . . . who had gone to the turn in 33 and picked up another shot on the 10th to lead by four from Spain's Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano. Castano went to the turn in 32 and birdied the 11th to lie nine under.