McIlroy in share of lead ahead of final round

Rory McIlroy will take a share of the lead into the final round as he aims to retain the Canadian Open at St George's Golf & Country Club.

The County Down man triumphed when the tournament was last held in 2019, and a third-round 65 has left him in a great position on 11 under par alongside American Tony Finau.

Shane Lowry shot a second consecutive 69 to sit on five under par, six strokes off the leading pair.

McIlroy had a vociferous crowd behind him in Ontario and he gave them something to shout about with a birdie on the fourth before nailing a 37-foot putt for another on the seventh.

A bogey did follow at the eighth hole, but McIlroy instantly got that shot back as a brilliant approach from the rough set up an eagle putt that came up a foot short.

This was special ❤️ Incredible scenes at "The Rink" @RBCCanadianOpen with @McIlroyRory. pic.twitter.com/fkQASGQvaA

Another eagle attempt on 11 would come up short, the birdie attempt holed, before he went pin seeking at the next to leave a simple tap in to move to 10 under par.

McIlroy's good day at the par fives continued on 15 as he chipped his third from an awkward position off the green close enough to pick up another stroke.

Lowry sits inside the top 20 but bogeys at 14 and 15 leave him with a lot of work to do to get into the title picture.

FULL LEADERBOARD

After six straight pars, Lowry bogeyed the seventh and followed it up with back-to-back birdies. Further birdies at the 10th and 12th moved him to seven under par before those two dropped shots.

Finau, meanwhile, carded a stunning round of 62 while recently crowned PGA champion Justin Thomas came home in 63 and is in a share for second on nine under par alongside Sam Burns, Alex Smalley and Wyndham Clark.