Third-ranked Rory McIlroy usually knows how to stay in the lead once he gets there.
Second-round leader McIlroy, from Northern Ireland, carded a three-under-par 67 and will take a one-stroke lead over Tom Kim of South Korea into the final round of the Genesis Scottish Open at The Renaissance Club in North Berwick, Scotland.
The tournament is co-sanctioned by the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour.
“It was another really good round of golf,” said McIlroy, who has won 36 times as a professional, including four major championships. “It was very solid. I feel like I’ve left a few out there over the last couple of days, but at the same time, at least the last few holes, it was in quite tricky conditions.
“It’s an opportunity to gain some points on both sides of the pond. I’m looking toward the end of the year and trying to win the season-long titles on both sides again. I feel like I’m sort of killing a few birds with one stone this week.
“I played well. It’s been a good three days and looking forward to obviously being in the final group tomorrow and seeing how my game holds up under that sort of pressure.”
McIlroy, who has won the FedEx Cup on the PGA Tour three times, opened with rounds of 64-66 and followed that up by making three birdies in the first seven holes of round three before he made two birdies and two bogeys coming home to record a 54-hole score of 13-under-par 197.
Kim, who has won 11 times as a pro even though he is only 21 years old, made three birdies in the first 11 holes in his bogey-free 67.
“It’s really easy to put a lot of pressure on yourself when you when you win twice, and all of a sudden, you’re like, ‘OK, how do I keep playing the same way?’” said Kim, who won twice on the PGA Tour in 2022. “And if it doesn’t happen, if it’s not like that, it’s easy for you to get very frustrated.
“There have been times where I haven’t felt as sure of myself, where there have been missed cuts. I think as I continue to learn and grow out here, it’s been important to keep in mind that the highs are high but the lows are low, and finding that balance is just so important to achieving the week-to-week improvement that we’re all seeking.”
Tommy Fleetwood of England birdied four of his first six holes after starting on the back nine and two of the last three in a 63 that was the low round of the day, and is two shots behind in a tie for third with left-hander Brian Harman, who made two late birdies in a 67.
Top-ranked Scottie Scheffler bounced back from a double-bogey 6 on the second hole with six birdies in a 67 and is three down in a tie for fifth with Eric Cole of Palm Springs, who made four straight birdies on his back nine in a 67; Shane Lowry of Ireland, who sank a 26-foot eagle putt on the 10th hole in a 65; J.T. Poston, who made three birdies on each nine in another 65, and Byeong Hun An of South Korea, the first-round leader at 61 who made a late birdie to shoot 69.
Eighth-ranked Max Homa of Valencia and Cal made three straight birdies through No. 10 in a 67 and is four strokes back in a tie for 10th with Harry Hall of England, who had three birdies on each nine in a 66, and Tom Hoge, who had three birdies down the stretch in another 66.
Defending champion and sixth-ranked Xander Schauffele birdied five of his first seven holes en route to a 67 and is in a tie for 18th that includes Viktor Hovland of Norway, who made four birdies on the back nine in another 67.
For complete results and final-round tee times, visit: https://www.pgatour.com/leaderboard
