PGA Tour Truest Championship: Alex Fitzpatrick chases Cameron Young, Rory McIlroy leads with failure

Alex Fitzpatrick shot a blistering seven-under-par 64 to take a one-shot lead heading into the final round of the Truist Championship at Quail Hollow.

The 27-year-old younger brother of former US Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick produced an inspired display, carding eight birdies to move to 14 under par and put himself in pole position for a first individual PGA Tour title.

Fitzpatrick leads Norway’s Kristoffer Rytan, who posted a 64 by just one stroke.

Just a fortnight after the Fitzpatrick brothers won the Zurich Classic of New Orleans in the pair’s event, it secured a two-year tour card for Alex, who is ranked 120th in the world.

World number two Rory McIlroy, a four-time winner at the venue, suffered a disappointing Saturday, falling out of contention with a four-over-par 75.

Starting two shots off the lead, Fitzpatrick went ahead with five birdies on the front nine.

Despite stumbling with a bogey on the 16th, he responded immediately by sinking an eight-foot putt for birdie on the par-three 17th to restore his narrow advantage.

“One thing I did a really good job of today was taking what was going on,” Fitzpatrick said.

“I had a lot of support there, which was amazing.

“I’d love to win. I’d give a lot to win. But if not to win, I hope it happens at some point. As long as I can go out and enjoy it, that’s all I can do.”

In contrast, McIlroy’s bid for another victory followed his victory in the A Masters last month – A tough afternoon in Charlotte was broken for the Northern Ireland man.

Six bogeys meant he slid off the leaderboard to one under par, leaving him 13 shots off the leader.

American Cameron Young carded the lowest round of the day, a sensational eight-under 63, sitting alone in third place at 12 under. Young, who won last week’s Cadillac Championship, had his only drop shot on 18, where an errant tee shot proved costly.

South Korea’s Sungjae Im, the halfway leader, sits at 10 under after a 70, with Denmark’s Nicolai Højgaard whose 67 puts him firmly in contention.

England’s Tommy Fleetwood is still in the hunt after a 70, sitting in a tie for sixth at nine under par with two-time major winner Justin Thomas.