Viktor Hovland marches six shots clear with $18m on line at Tour Championship
Viktor Hovland is on the verge of winning the FedEx Cup for the first time in his career.
Viktor Hovland surged into a six-stroke lead at the Tour Championship at East Lake, with the winner taking home $18m for being crowned ths season-long FedEx Cup champion.
Hovland, 25, carded a solid 4-under 66 in the third round to move to 20-under par and six shots clear of his nearest pursuer and course specialist Xander Schauffele, who carded a 68.
The Norwegian won last week's BMW Championship to move into second place in the PGA Tour's FedEx Cup standings.
As a result of that, Hovland started the week at 8-under par in the staggered scoring start in the FedEx Cup finale.
Following rounds of 68 and 64 to move into a tie for the lead thru 36 holes, Hovland vaulted into the outright lead thanks to back-to-back birdies on 6 and 7.
He then made three birdies in the space of four holes from the 12th, during a weather delay, before making pars to the house.
Viktor Hovland leads the way heading into Sunday @TOURChamp
(Presented by @ROLEX) pic.twitter.com/BdGWBaYbUZ— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) August 27, 2023
"I don't think I've ever played this well before," said Hovland, with a beaming smile after his third round.
Collin Morikawa, who shared the 36-hole lead with Hovland, struggled badly with a 73 and he looks on from seven strokes back on 13-under par with Keegan Bradley.
Jon Rahm and Scottie Scheffler are well off the pace at 11-under par, with an injured Rory McIlroy further back on 9-under par.
Rory McIlroy shocks golf fans with gigantic drive at East Lake despite a back injury.
Watch: ⤵️https://t.co/hGpEeGHmMh— GolfMagic (@GolfMagic) August 26, 2023
McIlroy came from six shots back to win a third FedEx Cup title last season, but he will now start this year's final round 11 strokes behind Hovland.
Tour Championship 3rd Round Leaderboard
-20 V Hovland
-14 X Schauffele
-13 C Morikawa, K Bradley
Andy first joined the brand on a month's work experience back in April 2011, and he now assumes the Editor role. When Andy joined GolfMagic it was a small site with potential.
