Rose leads by 1 with a clear shot at No. 1

NEWTOWN SQUARE, PA. » Justin Rose did his part on another day of low scoring Saturday in the BMW Championship, running off four straight birdies early for a 6-under 64 and a oneshot lead over Rory McIlroy and Xander Schauffele.

At stake for Rose is moving to No. 1 in the world for the first time in his career.

Still ahead is a final round at soggy Aronimink Golf Club that could take more than one day to complete because of rain in the forecast, along with 13 players within five shots of the lead. The list includes Tiger Woods, who shot 66 and made up no ground on the lead.

“If you shoot 65, you were losing ground,” McIlroy said with only slight exaggeration.

Rose made four straight birdies early on the front nine to quickly erase a twoshot deficit to Schauffele, and he finished the front nine birdie-birdie for a 29. Schauffele, hopeful a victory will give U.S. captain Jim Furyk reason to pick him for the Ryder Cup, stayed with Rose the whole way until he threeputted from the tight collar on 18 for a bogey and a 67.

McIlroy picked himself up from a double bogey on the par-3 eighth hole with a 3-wood onto a green so soft on the par-5 ninth it barely bounced forward and caught a slope down toward the pin, leaving him a short eagle putt.

Three birdies over the last six holes gave him a 63 and a spot in the final group.

The top 30 in the FedEx Cup after the final round advance to East Lake in Atlanta for the Tour Championship.