McIlroy posts 4‑under 66, closes in on PGA leaders
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- Rory McIlroy posted a 4‑under 66 in the third round, moving to 3‑under after 54 holes.
- Rory McIlroy was one stroke behind early clubhouse leaders Matti Schmid and Nick Taylor, who each shot 5‑under 65.
- Rory McIlroy rebounded from a 4‑over 74 in the first round to within a stroke of the lead after three rounds.
- Scoring conditions improved on Saturday with calmer wind, warmer temperatures, and softened pin positions after the first two rounds.
- Rory McIlroy made key birdies on holes 1, 5, 6, 9, 11 and 13, including driving the green on the 6th and two‑putting from 55 ft.
- Chris Kirk missed a chance to tie the course record with an 8‑under 62 after a double‑bogey on the 18th, finishing at 5‑under 65.
- Kristoffer Reitan posted a 5‑under 65 with two eagles on the 13th and 16th, leaving him three strokes behind the leaders after 54 holes.
Why it matters: McIlroy's surge narrows the gap to the leaders, reviving his chance to win after a first‑round 4‑over, while the improved weather and softened pin placements have benefitted the field, shifting momentum ahead of the final round. The tighter competition also puts pressure on early leaders Matti Schmid and Nick Taylor, who must defend their leads under the same favorable conditions.
