Former Ryder Cup captain Mark James once said of St Andrews, the Home of Golf: "My most common mistake is just turning up."

He also said of the Road Hole 17th: "I don't know who designed it, but I hear he's escaped!"

Rory McIlroy has a rather different take on the Old Course and its most talked-about hole - and that can only be good news for his hopes of winning not only the Alfred Dunhill Links title tomorrow, but also the Open Championship next July.

The 20-year-old, joint halfway leader and needing a top-two finish to overtake injured pair Martin Kaymer and Paul Casey to become the leading money-winner in Europe this season, will be at Kingsbarns today.

But he shot 65 at St Andrews yesterday and he cannot wait to get back there for Sunday's closing round.

Two years ago this was McIlroy's second professional event and his third place finish - achieved with birdies at the 17th and 18th just like yesterday - earned him a European Tour card without having to go to the qualifying school.

"When I stand on the first tee here it fills me with confidence because I know I've played so well around here before," he stated.

"It's just a golf course I'm very comfortable on. Obviously it will play a lot different during Open week - it will get very firm and fast - but it's a tournament I'm really looking forward to.

"You sort of grow to like it and to know it. The first time I played it I wasn't that keen, but then the more you play it the more fun you can have on it.

As for the 17th he added: "It's a bit weird hitting over a hotel, but I like to draw the ball and the preferred shot into that green is a draw.

"I'm probably under par for it. I didn't birdie it last year, but obviously the year before and I might have birdied it in the (amateur) St Andrews Links as well."

It is the 50th birthday of McIlroy's father on Monday and the special present was a place in the celebrity pro-am.

"I wouldn't have thought a few years ago I'd be able to walk up the 18th hole of St Andrews with him in this big a tournament - it's incredible how the last four or five years have gone."

Asked for a story from his formative years McIlroy said: "He'll probably hit me for saying this, but when I was about 14 I remember missing a couple of putts on purpose because I was beating him so bad and feeling sorry for him.

"I remember he came over to me and said 'You missed that one on purpose'."

There will be none of that over the closing 36 holes. Only the top 20 teams qualify for the final round and they teed off this morning in a massive 16-way tie for 13th.

Former Australian Test captain Steve Waugh and compatriot Scott Strange were the overnight leaders, while one-legged three-handicapper Manuel De Los Santos, whose talent has stunned everybody this week, was alongside the McIlroys playing with England's Richard Bland.

The race for the individual title, though, is the main event - it is, after all worth over £485,000 - and McIlroy was sharing top spot with fellow Ulsterman Michael Hoey and Scot Richie Ramsay.