Scottie Scheffler moved one step closer to his maiden FedEx Cup victory by extending his lead to five shots heading into the final round of the Tour Championship.
The Masters champion entered the weekend four shots ahead at East Lake after shooting 65 and 66 over the first two days. The American recovered from a slow start in the third round to extend his lead over his nearest challenger, Collin Morikawa.
Schaeffler's lead was cut to two strokes after an early bogey, but he made back-to-back birdies starting on the seventh hole and added four more over the final five holes for a 5-under 66 that lifted his combined score to 26-under and boosted his hopes of a seventh PGA Tour win of the season.
Schaeffler entered the Tour Championship as the FedExCup leader for the third straight season.
He will be paired with Morikawa again on the final day, who birdied three of his last four shots to salvage a third-round 67, while Sahit Tigala birdied five of his last four shots to finish at 17-under, ahead of Sander Schauffele for third place.
How Schaeffler Keeps Pushing for FedEx Cup Win
Scheffler recorded his first bogey on the par 4 for the second time in three days, while Morikawa saved par from seven feet to get within three, and the world's No. 1 had to make par on the next hole after missing the green on his tee shot.
Collin Morikawa will be paired with Scottie Scheffler in Round 3 on the final day.
Morikawa briefly cut Scheffler's lead to two with an 8-foot birdie on the fifth and sixth holes, but his playing partner missed the hole from a similar distance, and Scheffler regained his lead from the previous day with a two-stroke swing on the next hole.
Scheffler birdied from 15 feet, while Morikawa parred from 4. Both players birdied from close range on the next hole and parred the ninth to maintain a four-shot lead at the turn.
After the final two traded pars early in the back nine, Scheffler took a five-stroke lead with a 20-foot birdie on the par-5 fifth, while Morikawa three-putted from distance for par.
Morikawa hit his tee shot close for birdie on the next par-3, while Scheffler jumped to 24 under with a tricky two-putt from 20 feet on the 16th.
Scheffler used his advantageous tee shot near the trees to make a 10-foot birdie on the 17th hole, the fourth of three, and Morikawa followed suit, with both players rising to finish with identical birdies on the final hole.
“It's going to be tough, but I believe I can do it,” Morikawa said. “Five strokes is a lot, but two-stroke swings happen. I think I've seen it a few times in the last few days. I have to play my game. I have to go low. There are 18 holes left in the season. I'm going to give it everything I have in the next 24 hours.”
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Robert MacIntyre nearly made a stunning hole-in-one on the 15th hole at the Tour Championship before damaging the hole.
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Scheffler Talks Hopes for FedExCup He told Sky Sports: “I've had the opportunity to win a few tournaments here and there's no better opportunity than tomorrow. I've been mentally at my best this year and I'm looking forward to doing more tomorrow.”
Schauffele showed his passion for the FedEx Cup title but quickly fell apart after two bogeys in his first four holes, and he finished the round with a pair of birdies for a 71, 10 shots behind Schaeffler.
The Open champion was pushed out by his playing partner, Tigala, who was penalised two strokes for sticking his club in a bunker early in the round, but managed seven birdies in his final eight holes to move into third place.
Wyndham Clark tied with Adam Scott for fifth at 15-under, ahead of Sam Burns, while Shane Lowry tied the day's lowest score and moved into eighth place with a six-under 65. Rory McIlroy finished 10th at 11-under after a third-round 68.
Who will win the FedExCup? Watch the PGA Tour’s season-ending Tour Championship live on Sky Sports. Early coverage from East Lake continues on Sky Sports+ from 4pm on Sunday, with full coverage starting at 5pm on Sky Sports Golf. Stream the PGA Tour, DP World Tour and more on NOW.
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