Rory and Justin have Xander in their sights
Ryder Cup heroes Rory Mcilroy and Justin Rose are tied on 10-under-par in a share of ninth, after third rounds of 69 and 68 respectively, heading into today’s final round of the Charles Schwab Challenge in Fort Worth, Texas. However, it is Xander Schauffele who will take a oneshot lead into the final 18 holes around an eerie Colonial Country Club, stripped bare of spectators due to Covid-19 restrictions. Schauffele fired a second-successive four-under-par 66 to sit atop the leaderboard on 13-under-par. He is ahead of five players tied on 12-under, includingtexas’s own Jordan Spieth, along with reigning US Open champion Gary Woodland, Justin Thomas, Branden Grace and rookie phenomenon Collin Morikawa. Next up are Daniel Berger and overnight leader Harold Varner III on 11-under. Former Masters champ Patrick Reed fired a stunning seven-under-par 63 to blast himself up the leaderboard onto the 10-under mark alongside Abraham Ancer, Bryson Dechambeau, Corey Connors and Mcilroy and Rose. World No. 1 Mcilroy had three birdies and two bogeys in his one-under-par 69, but reckons he is still within striking distance of Schauffele. “I didn’t think I played well. But looking at the leaderboard no-one else pulled away,” said the Northern Irishman. Meanwhile, Rose, who dropped two shots in his last three holes, admitted he was disappointed with his back nine yesterday. “It was a mixed bag for me,” said the 2013 US Open champ at Merion and winner of this event in 2018. “I love competing here. It offers a lot of birdie opportunities and my putting has been amazing. But it fell apart a bit on the back nine.” Ian Poulter is on seven-under in a tie for 22nd.