World number one Scottie Scheffler will take a five-shot lead into the final round of the PGA Tour’s season-ending Tour Championship.
After a slow start to his third round, the American finished strongly with birdies on four of the final five holes at East Lake Golf Club to put himself firmly in line for the $25m first prize.
They helped Scheffler to card a 66 for a 26-under-par total and sit five strokes ahead of compatriot Collin Morikawa.
Morikawa had reduced the deficit to two shots on the front nine, but Scheffler recovered with back-to-back birdies on the seventh and eighth.
“I’ve had my chances here to win some tournaments and I’ll have no better opportunity than Sunday,” said Scheffler, who is bidding for his first FedExCup title, and losing out in the previous two seasons when coming in with a lead.
“I’ve been mentally at my best this year and I’m looking forward to doing more of that tomorrow.”
Morikawa finished strongly, too, with birdies on three of his last four holes to stay in touching distance of Scheffler.
“It’s going to be very hard, but I believe in myself that I can do it,” said Morikawa. “I’ve got 18 holes left to the season – I’m going to put everything I have into these next 24 hours.”
BIG MOVERS
The biggest mover on Saturday was Sahith Theegala, who, despite calling a two-shot penalty on himself on the third hole when he adjudged himself to have moved some sand while addressing a bunker shot, finished with five consecutive birdies to move into third place on 17 under.
Xander Schauffele, Scheffler’s closest rival at the start of the week, is in fourth place on 16 under after being becalmed with a level-par 71 on Saturday.
Shane Lowry put himself in line for a monster cheque when shooting a six-under 65 to move into 8th place, while Rory McIlroy’s third round 68 left him in a tie for 10th on 11 under.
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