Xander Schauffele is holding on to a one-shot lead over Rory McIlroy heading into the final day of the Wells Fargo Championship after Saturday’s challenging third round in Charlotte, N.C.
Schauffele has led after each of the first three rounds but managed only a 1-under 70 Saturday at Quail Hollow Club. McIlroy — the Northern Irishman who has won the Wells Fargo three times — posted a bogey-free, 4-under 67 to zap most of Schauffele’s four-shot cushion entering the weekend.
Sungjae Im of South Korea (69) is in third at 8 under.
Schauffele’s only birdies came at the par-5 seventh hole and the short par-4 14th. He found a greenside bunker at the par-4 12th and couldn’t get up and down for par.
McIlroy took advantage by making birdies at Nos. 5, 9, 10 and 14. He dialed in his approach shot at No. 5 and landed his ball inside 4 feet; with a wedge for his second shot at the 14th, he rolled his approach to less than 2 feet.
The World No. 2 hasn’t made a bogey since Thursday.
McIlroy and Austria’s Sepp Straka (67) were the only players to shoot better than 2 under on the day as the course showed its teeth. Straka elevated himself to fourth place at 7 under by making four of his seven birdies over his final six holes.
Jason Day of Australia (73) is in fifth at 5 under. Tied for sixth at 4 under are Sam Burns (70), Collin Morikawa (72), Byeong Hun An of South Korea (71), Taylor Pendrith of Canada (71) and Germany’s Stephan Jaeger (71).
–Field Level Media