With five birdies on his back nine and four on the front, Rory McIlroy carved up East Lake Golf Club with his putter throughout Saturday’s third round to post a thrilling 7-under 63.
A pair of par-3 bogeys at No. 2 and No. 11 limited McIlroy from tying — and perhaps breaking — the low score of the tournament. It was still a showcase for the three-time FedExCup winner who put together his best round of the week — and beat his previous best mark of the 2026 playoffs, a 6-under 64 during the opening round of last week’s BMW Championship.
McIlroy and Round 3 playing partner Si Woo Kim were the fourth pairing off the tee in Atlanta on Moving Day, and now have a long wait as the 11 other duos behind them are still on the course.
His birdie putt on the par-4 17th brought him into a five-way tie with Chris Gotterup, Viktor Hovland, Cameron Young and Ryan Gerard. It also gave him a stretch of three consecutive made birdie putts.
McIlroy went on to par his final hole after his tee shot disappeared off the fairway. He scrambled beautifully and gave himself at a fourth straight circle but would up just right of the cup on his birdie attempt.
It would have been just the second time he would have ended a round with four straight birdies. The first time it happened was at the Masters earlier this year.
McIlroy sits in solo fourth on the leaderboard as of 4:15 p.m. ET and is the clubhouse leader at 10 under. There is a six-way tie for fifth with a half dozen players at 9 under.
Gerard, Gotterup and Hovland all gained a stroke and took the co-lead at 11 under moments before McIlroy’s round wrapped up on the 18th hole.
Only time will tell how much of an impact the brilliant third round will do for McIlroy’s fate in Atlanta.
