McIlroy: Open win would mean everything | Hovland: It was awesome

Rory McIlroy has said winning The 150th Open "would mean everything" to him after he moved into a share of the lead following a superb third round at St Andrews.

The Northern Irishman was paired with Norway's Viktor Hovland on the Old Course and, after starting three behind overnight leader Cameron Smith, the pair surged four shots clear of Smith and Cameron Young, after producing matching scores of six-under 66 to move to 16 under.

The highlight of McIlroy's round came at the par-four 10th when he holed a perfectly-played bunker shot for an eagle and he also added five birdies and a lone bogey at the 17th, while Hovland's flawless effort included four successive birdies from the third.

McIlroy now has his sights set on ending his major drought, the last of his four victories coming at the 2014 PGA Championship, although he admits he still has work to do in the final round on Sunday, when he will be paired with Hovland once again.

"It would mean everything [to win] because of what I've been through these last few years and trying to get that fifth one," McIlroy told Sky Sports.

"But here we are talking about getting ahead of myself. I need to go out and keep the same mindset I had today and the last three days.

"I know if I go out there and play my own game I can shoot scores like this on this golf course and I just need to do it for one more day.

"Then I'll give you all the superlatives and everything else if that does happen.

"Right now I've got to go rest, recover, focus on myself, try to go out and shoot another good one."

After a number of near-misses in majors in recent years, McIlroy, who won The Open at Royal Liverpool in 2014, believes he is in the form of his life at the present time.

"I'm a better player now