Scottie Scheffler extended his lead to five strokes heading into the final round of the Tour Championship, moving one step closer to his first FedExCup victory.
The American Masters champion entered the weekend in fourth place at East Lake after rounds of 65 and 66 on the first two days. The American recovered from a slow start in the third round to extend his lead over nearest challenger Collin Morikawa.
Scheffler’s early bogey cut the lead to two strokes, but he birdied consecutively starting at the seventh hole and then added four more birdies in the final five holes for a 5-under 66 to move to 26-under overall and raise his hopes of winning his seventh PGA Tour victory of the season.
He will be paired with Morikawa again on the final day, but Morikawa birdied three of his final four strokes to finish with a third-round 67, while Sahith Teegala finished with five birdies to move into third place at 17 under par, ahead of Xander Schauffele.
How Scheffler kept his quest for FedEx Cup glory
Scheffler bogeyed his second time in three days on the par-4 first hole, but Morikawa saved par with a shot from 7 feet to close to within three strokes, while the world number one missed the green with his tee shot and was forced to scramble for par on the next hole.
Collin Morikawa will be paired with Scottie Scheffler on the final day for the third consecutive round.
Morikawa drilled an 8-foot birdie on the par-5 sixth hole to briefly cut Scheffler’s lead to two strokes, while his playing partner missed from a similar distance, but Scheffler pulled away by two strokes on the next hole to reclaim his overnight lead.
Scheffler rolled the ball in from 15 feet for birdie, while Morikawa wasted a 4-foot putt for par, and both men made close birdies on the next holes and saved par on the ninth hole to hold a four-stroke lead at the turn.
The final two players traded pars early on the back nine before Scheffler closed to within five strokes with a 20-foot birdie on the par-5 14th, but Morikawa three-putted from long range to settle for par.
Morikawa hit his tee shot close on the par-3 hole for a birdie, and Scheffler rolled the ball from 20 feet to win a tough two-putt on the 16th hole to move to 24 under par.
Scheffler took advantage of a favorable lie near the trees on his tee shot at the par-4 17th hole to put him from 10 feet for birdie, and Morikawa responded by extending his lead over the rest of the field before both players went up-and-down on the final hole to finish with identical birdies.
“It’s going to be a very tough battle, but I believe I can do it,” Morikawa said. “Five strokes is a lot, but a two-stroke swing can happen. I think we’ve seen it a couple of times in the last few days. I’ve just got to play my game. I’ve got to keep my average down. There are 18 holes left in the season. I’m just going to give it my all in the next 24 hours.”
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Robert McIntyre came close to hitting a stunning hole-in-one on the 15th hole of the Tour Championship, but damaged the hole.
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Schaeffler on FedEx Cup expectations He told Sky Sports: “I’ve had chances to win some tournaments in the past, but there’s never been a better opportunity than tomorrow. I’ve been in the best mental state I’ve been in this year and I’m hoping to carry that momentum tomorrow.”
Schauffele’s bid to win the FedEx Cup quickly fell apart with two bogeys in his first four holes, before he added two birdies in the next round to finish 10 behind Scheffler at par 71.
The British Open champion’s attention was eclipsed by playing partner Teegala, who was penalized two strokes for dropping a club in a bunker early in the round, but then made seven birdies in the final eight holes to move into third place.
Wyndham Clark is tied for fifth with Adam Scott at 15 under, ahead of Sam Burns, while Shane Lowry tied for the lowest score of the day with a six-under 65 to move him into eighth place. Rory McIlroy is in a tie for 10th at 11 under after a third-round 68.
Who will win the FedExCup? Watch the PGA Tour’s season-final tournament, the Tour Championship, live on Sky Sports. Early coverage from East Lake continues on Sunday from 4pm on Sky Sports+, followed by full coverage on Sky Sports Golf from 5pm. Stream the PGA Tour, DP World Tour and more on NOW.
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