Rory McIlroy surges in weather-delayed third round at Tour Championship
But Scottie Scheffler remains narrowly out in front over Xander Schauffele at East Lake.
Rory McIlroy surged into contention for a record third FedEx Cup title on a weather-delayed round three at the Tour Championship, the season finale on the PGA Tour.
McIlroy started the third round nine shots off the pace set by World No.1 Scottie Scheffler but he played 16 holes in 5-under par to vault to 15-under par for the tournament.
He birdied the 2nd and 3rd before handing one back at the 4th, but he hit the shot of the day on the par-5 6th when firing a long iron to within two feet of the cup for an eagle-three.
The eagle has landed @McIlroyRory making moves on Moving Day @PlayoffFinale. pic.twitter.com/UueCwG21CV
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) August 27, 2022
McIlroy then added further birdies at 8 and 13.
The third round was delayed due to lightning earlier in the round causing an hour delay to the tee times, and then lightning struck once again on East Lake by the time McIlroy reached the 17th tee.
There was to be no more golf thereafter and it meant McIlroy had pulled to within four shots of Scheffler, who was level par thru 12 holes.
Scheffler at one stage in the second round led by seven shots but he has now let his rivals back into the mix after treading water on day three.
He birdied the 8th and gave it back at the 11th to remain at 19-under par for the tournament.
Scheffler now leads by just one shot over playing partner Xander Schauffele, who similarly struggled at just 1-under for 12 holes.
Sungjae Im is hot on their heels at 16-under par after playing 14 holes in 4-under par.
A host of players lie five shots back on 14-under par including Justin Thomas (who has a short birdie putt on 18 to move to 15-under par when play resumes), Sepp Straka, Jon Rahm and defending FedEx Cup champion Patrick Cantlay.
McIlroy is bidding to win a record third FedEx Cup title as he currently has two to his name just like Tiger Woods.
The Northern Irishman still has plenty of work to do this weekend but his effort to haul himself back into contention for the FedEx Cup is incredible, especially after playing the very first two holes of the tournament in 4-over par, which at the time put him 10 shots behind Scheffler.
Cantlay is looking to become the first player to ever defend the FedEx Cup, while Scheffler and Schauffele are looking to win it for the first time.
The winner of the Tour Championship wins the FedEx Cup and a cool $18 million bonus.
Play will resume at 9.45am local time (2.45pm UK time) on Sunday.
TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP R3 LEADERBOARD
-19 (12 holes) S Scheffler
-18 (12 holes) X Schauffele
-16 (14 holes) S Im
-15 (16 holes) R McIlroy
-14 (17 holes) J Thomas
-14 (17 holes) S Straka
-14 (13 holes) P Cantlay
-14 (13 holes) J Rahm
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