Tour Championship – round three
-15 V Hovland (Nor); -14 R Gerard (US); -12 A Scott (Aus), L Aberg (Swe), S Scheffler, C Gotterup (US)
Selected: -10 R McIlroy (NI), C Young (US); -8 J Rose (Eng), M Fitzpatrick (Eng); -7 T Fleetwood (Eng), A Fitzpatrick (Eng); -4 R MacIntyre (Sco)
Viktor Hovland will head into the final round of the PGA Tour’s $40m Tour Championship in Atlanta on Sunday with a one-stroke lead.
The season-ending event will also crown the FedEx Cup champion, which was won by Hovland in 2023.
The Norwegian, who came into the third round tied for the lead on 10 under with American Ryan Gerard, birdied the 17th and 18th holes to post a five-under-par 65 to improve to 15 under.
Gerard also birdied the final hole to finish one back on 14 under after a round of 66.
Lurking in the chasing pack are the world’s top two players, with number one Scottie Scheffler, the 2024 champion, producing a serene bogey-free round of 66 to finish three adrift on 12 under.
Back-to-back Masters champion Rory McIlroy – a record three-time FedEx Cup winner in 2016, 2019 and 2022 – catapulted himself into contention with a hugely impressive 63 to sit five shots off the lead.
The 37-year-old found form with his putter as he holed nine birdies, including three in a row on 15, 16 and 17 to post the joint lowest round of the day.
“I just left myself in better spots on the greens,” said McIlroy.
“I gave myself easier putts, putts that didn’t break two ways. When I got it rolling there on the back nine, every putt was like a cup right or a cup left.”
Australia’s Adam Scott, 46, who won the Tour Championship 20 years ago is alongside Scheffler after also carding a 66, while Sweden’s Ludvig Aberg posted a 65 to also finish on 12 under.
McIlroy is joined on 10 under by Players Championship winner Cameron Young.
England’s Justin Rose and Matt Fitzpatrick are probably too far back to challenge or the title at eight under par.
Defending champion Tommy Fleetwood and fellow Englishman Alex Fitzpatrick are a shot further adrift after both signed for 67s.
Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre, first out and playing on his own in the 29-man field (reduced from 30 because JJ Spaun pulled out injured during round one) whipped round in 63 shots to improve to joint 25th on four under par.