Steady McIlroy has two-stroke lead at Honda Classic

North Carolina: Rory McIlroy was steady rather than spectacular as he extended his lead to two strokes after the third round at the $6 million Honda Classic in south Florida on Saturday.

McIlroy missed only one green on the water-lined back nine as he compiled a one-under-par 69 in a moderate breeze at PGA National in Palm Beach Gardens. "I thought 69 in the conditions was a pretty good score," the 24-year-old from Northern Ireland told Golf Channel. "You can`t really get away with anything (on this golf course). You really have to be in control with your ball and for the most part this week I have been." Two-time major champion McIlroy, whose gallery included fiancée, tennis player Caroline Wozniacki, posted a 12-under 198 total. American Russell Henley (68), boosted by an unlikely eagle at the par-four 14th, moved into second place on 10-under, with Scotsman Russell Knox (68) alone in third position on nine-under. Tiger Woods had his best round of the year, a 65, to move within seven strokes. Zimbabwean Brendon de Jonge started the day one stroke from the lead, but finished it eight behind after an error-strewn 76. Henley recorded his eagle with a wedge from 150 yards. His ball stayed in the air for almost six seconds, landed a couple of inches beyond the cup and found the hole on the first bounce. "It felt like a really great swing," said Henley. "It was a pretty cool feeling." Henley produced an encore when he rammed home a 50-foot putt from the fringe at the par-three 17th. His ball was motoring at speed when it hit the back of the hole, jumped a couple of inches in the air and dropped in. "I hit it a little too hard but it felt really good coming off the clubface," he said. Henley, 24, who has won once on the PGA Tour, knows he likely needs a hot final round to catch McIlroy, who has won the past three times when he has held the 54-hole lead. His advantage could have been larger, because birdie putts at the final two holes shaved the cup without dropping. "I`m comfortable playing with the lead," said McIlroy, the 2012 champion. "If you`re playing with the lead, you`ve got to let the guys come to you. It`s going to make the job of the other guys very difficult if you`re not making mistakes." Woods, who made the cut on the number, took advantage of his early tee time to equal the best round of the day. "Yesterday I didn`t hit the ball very well. Today I struck the ball well and made some putts (but) I missed my share as well. I just had a good feel (on the greens)," he said.