| -6: R McIlroy (NI), D Lipsky (US), K Si-woo (Cor); -5: D McCarthy (US), V Hovland (Nor), W Clark (US), L Hodges (US), M Hubbard (US); -4: C Morikawa (US), H Matsuyama (Jap), P Cantlay (US), P Rodgers (US), K Bradley (US) |
| Selected others:-2: D Willett (Eng), M Fitzpatrick (Eng), R Fowler (US), J Rahm (Spa) |
| Full leaderboard |
Rory McIlroy says sticking to his plan on the final day of the Memorial Tournament will give him “a great chance” after a strong third round shot him into a share of the lead.
The Northern Irishman’s round of two under on Saturday saw him climb six places on the leaderboard.
He shared the lead with American David Lipsky and Kim Si-woo in South Korea.
“If I stick to the game plan for the last three days, I can be in for a big moment,” McIlroy told Sky Sports.
McIlroy, 34, focused on hitting the ball off the tee at the challenging Muirfield Village Golf Club in Ohio.
But he excelled on the greens in the third round, needing just 22 putts all day – the fewest of anyone in the field.
The world number three added: “I feel more comfortable. I don’t think I’m 100%. I’m fighting and hanging in there. The course plays very hard and it’s about positioning your way around the course.
“It feels better. I keep saying it, I feel like I didn’t fight the club face as much as I did. I was able to let it go a little more and have a little more confidence in it. This week, how do you it’s hard to play, you have to trust it.
“I think this course can still be played from the fairways. I did a good job of keeping the ball in play. All I have to do tomorrow is stick to that gameplan, not get ahead of myself or too much you are aggressive.”
McIlroy’s key moments saw him chip off the green on 12 and – after dropping a shot on 16 – he hit an 8-iron from 178 yards to within 10ft and made birdie on 17.
The American Lipsky has yet to win on the PGA Tour and although he still holds a share of the lead, he dropped three shots in his last six holes on the third day.
South Korea’s Kim didn’t struggle either, posting double bogeys on holes three and 11, only to serve up six birdies to stay in contention.
American Justin Suh fell from his position as the overnight leader to 14th after dropping four shots in the first four holes of the five-over-par round.
And Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama – second overnight – was left with a triple bogey at 12 when he found water in a three-over-par round that saw him drop to ninth in the field.
