Rory McIlroy carded the joint lowest round of Saturday to join Chris Gotterup in a share of the lead at the Genesis Scottish Open, heading in to a sold-out final day at the Renaissance Club.
Related: Chris Gotterup equals course record to top leaderboard in Scotland
The Northern Irishman began Moving Day four shots behind the overnight leader, but he reeled in the American with a patient 66 to set the clubhouse target of 11 under.
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Gotterup, who equalled the course record on Friday, missed a lengthy birdie putt at the last for the outright lead as he signed for a level-par third round.
McIlroy spoke about his renewed optimism on his first event in Europe since completing the career Grand Slam with his emotional Masters Tournament victory in April.
The 36-year-old, who currently leads the Race to Dubai, put himself in pole position for a fifth Rolex Series triumph before next week’s Open Championship on home soil at Royal Portrush.
American pair Wyndham Clark and Jake Knapp sat alongside English duo Matt Fitzpatrick and Marco Penge in a tie for third at nine under.
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At seven under, Ludvig Åberg led an eight-strong group with European Ryder Cup team-mate Sepp Straka, Americans Andrew Novak and Harris English, Germany’s Matti Schmid, South Korean Tom Kim, Chinese Taipei’s Kevin Yu and Frenchman Antoine Rozner.
Meanwhile, Frenchman Romain Langasque thrilled the sell out crowds with a stunning hole-in-one at the par-three 14th with a wedge from 145 yards.
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Due to forecasted haar (dense sea fog) in the North Berwick area in the morning and evening, tee times for Sunday’s final round of the Genesis Scottish Open have been adjusted.
There will now be a two tee start from the first and tenth tees between approximately 11:30 and 13:40, with final putt expected at approximately 19:00.
Player quotes
Rory McIlroy: A little bit of the same, I think. I was even par through seven. Made a really good bounceback birdie on after the bogey on 7. I felt like the conditions were tougher as the day went on and the back nine played more difficult today than it did yesterday, at least for me.
I think the wind and the conditions we got are sort of similar to what the afternoon wave got yesterday. But I controlled my ball flight well and did what I needed to do, close on the last two holes as well. Overall happy with the day’s work.
It’s my first realistic chance to win after the Masters, and I’ve had a great season. I won at Pebble. I won PLAYERS. When you do something that you’ve been dreaming your whole life to do, it was a huge moment in my life, my career. The I think I just needed that little bit of time.
And to be back here for last couple weeks, and feel like I could actually digest all of it, I feel like I came to this tournament with renewed enthusiasm and excitement for the rest of the year.
It’s been amazing. The atmosphere today was incredible. I think they had a sell-out and I think it’s a sell-out again tomorrow. The weather helps. It’s amazing to play in front of fans like that and an atmosphere like that. I’m excited to hopefully be in that final group tomorrow and hopefully feel more of the same.
