Justin Rose has won twice in Pennsylvania and he’s going for No. 3.
The fourth-ranked Englishman carded a 6-under-par 64 to take a one-stroke lead over eighth-ranked Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland and Xander Schauffele of La Jolla and San Diego State heading to the final round of the BMW Championship at Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square, Pa.
“I didn’t play as well as I did yesterday, especially didn’t drive it as well, but I was able to get my nose out on front and stay there,” said Rose, who won the 2010 Quicken Loans National at Aronimink and the 2013 U.S. Open at nearby Merion Golf Club. “I played great on the front nine and then I couldn’t make a birdie on the back, but was able to make some nice par saves.
“I’m going to have to play well tomorrow to win. A one-stroke lead isn’t anything to protect with this kind of chasing pack and I’m going to have to play as well or better than the guys play next to me. It’s going to be a dogfight.”
Rose, who can take the No. 1 spot in the World Gof Rankings by winning, birdied six of the first nine holes before closing with nine straight pars to record a 54-hole score of 17-under 193 in the third of four events in the FedEx Cup playoffs.
Schauffele, the 2017 PGA Tour Rookie of the Year, was tied for the lead before making his only bogey to the round on the last hole of a 67, while McIlroy collected seven birdies and sank an eight-foot eagle putt at No. 9 that highlighted his 63.
Ninth-ranked Rickie Fowler of Murrieta posted a third straight 65 and is two shots back in a tie for fourth with Tommy Fleetwood of England, who put up a second consecutive 62, and Keegan Bradley is one more down in sixth after a 66.
Third-ranked Justin Thomas totaled 66 and is four strokes behind in a tie for seventh with sixth-ranked Francesco Molinari of Italy, who finished at 64, Billy Horschel, who wound up at 66, and Hideki Maruyama of Japan, who came in at 67.
Five-time BMW champion Tiger Woods is tied for 11th after a 66, fifth-ranked Jon Rahm of Spain shot 65 and is tied for 21st, and seventh-ranked Bryson DeChambeau of Clovis is tied for 26th following a 64.
Top-ranked Dustin Johnson totaled 64 and is in a tie for 33rd that includes second-ranked Brooks Koepka, who finished at 64, while 10th-ranked Jordan Spieth is tied for 39th after a 66, and Phil Mickelson wound up at 67 and is tied for 67th.
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