Rory McIlroy lit up Las Vegas with a blistering 10-under 62 to arrange a final day showdown with previous rival Rickie Fowler on the CJ Cup in Las Vegas on Saturday.
After beginning the day 9 photographs off the lead, McIlroy ended it in second place after a second straight bogey-free spherical, highlighted by 5 successive birdies from holes three to seven and a spectacular end in making a 21-foot eagle putt on the final.
McIlroy’s lowest spherical since 2019 left him at 19-under par, two behind Fowler, who was in equally sturdy kind with 5 entrance 9 birdies and 4 extra coming house in a blemish-free 63.
On a leaderboard flush with UK gamers, Tyrrell Hatton was 4 photographs off the lead in equal-sixth after a 67, with fellow Englishman Ian Poulter an extra stroke away after additionally capturing five-under.
England’s Paul Casey was eight off the tempo at 13-under after a 70, a shot forward of Tommy Fleetwood who had 4 birdies on every 9 in a bogey-free 64.
Sharing third place at 18-under had been Australian Adam Scott (67), America’s Robert Streb (65) and Mexico’s Abraham Ancer (63).
McIlroy, the previous world primary who has this yr dropped to 14th, later mentioned he couldn’t keep in mind his final bogey-free spherical earlier than this event, the place he all of the sudden has two.
“I believe on a course like this you’re going to have stretches the place you’re going to play good golf and hit good photographs and perhaps simply not gap the putts,” he instructed reporters.
“I performed an eight-hole stretch yesterday in even par — I made eight pars in a row. Then at this time, I performed 9 holes in 6 below and abruptly you are feeling somewhat higher about your self.”