McIlroy in the lead at CJ Cup as he chases number one spot

Rory McIlroy will carry a one-shot lead into the final round of the CJ Cup as his bid to become world number one for a ninth time remains on track.

A win or outright second place, if current number one Scottie Scheffler finishes out the top 35 [he's currently in a tie for 47th], would send the Holywood golfer – sitting on 13-under - to the top of the rankings for the first time since 2020.

A four-under-par 67 gives him a real chance, although a bogey at the 17th prevented him from holding a bigger lead.

McIlroy entered Saturday’s action in South Carolina three shots off leader Jon Rahm and now has a glorious chance to defend the title with the tournament staged in Las Vegas in 2021.

He had two eagles during his round, firstly at the par-five fourth and then rolling in a 30-foot putt at the 12th. There were also three birdies and three bogeys on his card.

FULL LEADERBOARD

There is a three-way tie for second on 12-under with Rahm, American Kurt Kitayama and KH Lee of South Korea chasing McIlroy.

Shane Lowry had managed to get to 10-under by the eighth hole, but bogeys would follow at the ninth, 11th and 14th to leave him just outside the top 10.

Seamus Power recorded a disappointing 74, that featured four back-nine bogeys, to fall to three-under.