Rory McIlroy keeps FedEx Cup hopes alive with spectacular Moving Day 63
GOLF AUSTRALIAN OPEN, Northern Ireland s Rory McIlroy looks on after teeing off on the 3rd hole during round three of the Australian Open Golf tournament at the Royal Melbourne Golf Club in Melbourne, Saturday, December 6, 2025. NO ARCHIVING, EDITORIAL USE ONLY MELBOURNE VICTORIA AUSTRALIA PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxAUSxNZLxPNGxFIJxVANxSOLxTGA Copyright: xJAMESxROSSx 20251206197727143457
GOLF AUSTRALIAN OPEN, Northern Ireland s Rory McIlroy looks on after teeing off on the 3rd hole during round three of the Australian Open Golf tournament at the Royal Melbourne Golf Club in Melbourne, Saturday, December 6, 2025. NO ARCHIVING, EDITORIAL USE ONLY MELBOURNE VICTORIA AUSTRALIA PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxAUSxNZLxPNGxFIJxVANxSOLxTGA Copyright: xJAMESxROSSx 20251206197727143457
World No. 2 Rory McIlroy has put himself right back into contention at the Tour Championship. With a Moving Day 63, the Northern Irishman is just five strokes off the lead. A similar performance on Sunday could hand him his fourth FedEx Cup.
McIlroy looked off the pace during the first 36 holes at East Lake. However, the six-time major champion turned up the heat on Saturday.
"I got myself back in the tournament," McIlroy said. "I would say, if I were to go out tomorrow and shoot the same score as I did today, I'd say that would have a very, very good chance."
via Usta
260410 -- AUGUSTA, April 10, 2026 -- Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland watches his tee shot during the round 1 of the 2026 Masters golf tournament at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, the United States, on April 9, 2026. SPU.S.-AUGUSTA-GOLF-2026 MASTERS-ROUND 1 WuxXiaoling PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxCHN
McIlroy came into the third round seven strokes off the top. The seven-under 63 on Saturday took him to 10-under for the tournament.
The Ulsterman is now five behind leader Viktor Hovland, who shot five-under 65 in the third round.
Two holes in, McIlroy trailed 1-over, a familiar trap. Then his putter woke up.
"I think the difference today was I just putted a bit better," he said, as reported by HITC's Antony Martin. "I think I lost maybe a combined three [strokes] on the greens over the first two days, and I probably gained over three on the greens today."
McIlroy’s putting as well as his elite ball-striking helped him climb the ranks. The 37-year-old landed nine birdies, with the last one coming off a 20-ft putt.
After a close call at the BMW Championship last week, McIlroy will need to post a similar score on Sunday to have a chance.
McIlroy lifted the title in 2016, 2019, 2022, and now the six-time major winner has a solid shot at his fourth FedEx Cup in 2026.
However, playing three weeks in a row is rare for McIlroy.
Can Rory McIlroy sustain the momentum?
Since winning his second straight Masters title in April, McIlroy has only featured at five official PGA Tour events in the United States.
"This is my third week in a row. I rarely do that anymore,” McIlroy said, as per HITC's Antony Martin. "Again, I'm 37. I've been at this, this is my 18th or 19th year as a pro. Maybe my fuse is a little shorter than it used to be."
McIlroy has adopted a lighter PGA Tour schedule, and even failed to reach the Tour’s 15-event minimum membership requirement by one this season.
However, McIlroy’s legacy as a global player has come to his aid. After the Tour Championship, the Irishman will feature on an extended schedule on the DP World Tour.
PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp has hailed his commitment to both tours, and as a result, the six-time major winner is at no risk of losing his PGA Tour card.
Written by
Avishek Sarkar