England's Alex Fitzpatrick takes a one-shot lead into the final round of the PGA Tour’s Truist Championship, as Rory McIlroy’s title hopes faded in North Carolina.
Fitzpatrick mixed eight birdies with a lone bogey to post a sensational seven-under 64 at the Quail Hollow Club, lifting him to 14 under and a shot clear of Norway's Kristoffer Reitan.
Cameron Young fired a round-of-the-day 63 to jump to third and within two of the lead, with Nicolai Hojgaard four back in a share of fourth place alongside halfway leader Sungjae Im.
JJ Spaun and Justin Thomas both sit five behind on nine under, while Tommy Fleetwood - playing alongside Im in the final group and one back at the halfway stage - is also in the group tied-sixth after a one-under 70.
McIlroy, a four-time winner of the event, was four strokes off the halfway lead but stumbled down the leaderboard - and out of contention - after a third-round 75.
The back-to-back Masters champion birdied the par-four first but dropped shots on both par-threes on the front nine, then lost further ground after four consecutive bogeys on his back nine.
McIlroy had to settle for birdie at the par-five 15th after missing his eagle attempt from 10 feet, with the world No 2 closing with three straight pars to head into the final day on one under.
Overnight leader Im, meanwhile, shot a one-under 70 with the first of two bogeys over the final hour holes coming in bizarre fashion at the par-five 15th.
In a bunker in front of the green for his third shot, Im's attempt from the sand went long and bounced off the stand beyond the green before inexplicably rolling all the way back through the green and dropping into the same bunker just yards away from where it had started.
Fitzpatrick is chasing a second PGA Tour victory, and first solo triumph, after last month securing his card with a win at the Zurich Classic alongside brother and 2022 US Open champion Matt, who is a stroke behind McIlroy after a 69.
"I think having my brother around has been super helpful," he said.
"He's been and done everything that I want to do in the game, whether that's Ryder Cup and win majors.
"Having him, kind of, being around and me being there for all of that, I felt like I got a really good sense of what it takes and what the atmosphere is like."
The 27-year-old admitted victory on Sunday "would obviously mean a lot" but says he also wants to enjoy the final round.
"I feel like over the past six months I've always tried to have the mindset of there is other things in life than golf. You know, I would love to win. I would give a lot to win," Fitzpatrick added.
"Also if winning doesn't happen tomorrow, I would hope it would happen at some point. As long as I can out and enjoy it that's all I can do.
Two back on the Englishman is the in-form Young, who won by six shots at last week's Cadillac Championship. His 63 on Saturday was two off the course record set by McIlroy in 2015.
After finishing with a bogey on the last hole, Young said: "I know (the record was) 10 under and I knew I was at nine.
"But that wasn't my thought. I was just trying to hit it somewhere right of the hole on 17 and hit a couple good shots on 18. Unfortunately had one of my few bad swings of the day on 18."
In the other PGA Tour event taking place this week, England's Aaron Rai heads into the final round at the ONEflight Myrtle Beach Classic one shot off the lead after a third-round 66.
Halfway leader Rai birdied four straight holes from the turn as he moved to 15-under-par.
He trails American Mark Hubbard, who moved ahead with five birdies in his last eight holes - including four in a row from the 14th - as he carded a 64.
America Kevin Roy is a further shot behind while five-time major winner Brooks Koepka shot a 64 to sit five strokes off the pace.
Who will win the Truist Championship? Watch the final round live on Sunday from 12.30pm on Your Site+ and 5pm on Your Site Golf. Not got Sky? or .
