Scheffler extends lead as McIlroy stays in British Open contention
World number one Scheffler moved two strokes ahead of Matthew Fitzpatrick as he eyes a first Claret Jug, reaching 13-under par for the tournament after the front nine.
Englishman Fitzpatrick drew level with Scheffler early in the round by chipping in for an eagle on the par-five second, as the overnight leader three-putted for par.
But Scheffler, the PGA champion, stretched back in front with an eagle on the seventh hole, backed up by a birdie on the eighth.
Li Haotong, hoping to become the first Chinese man to win a major title, hung in to reach the turn at nine-under overall, four shots back.
Tyrrell Hatton also eagled the seventh, sitting a shot further behind on eight-under through 10 holes, tied with Scottish Open champion Chris Gotterup.
Home favourite McIlroy, starting the day seven strokes off the pace, quickly made his move with three birdies in his first four holes.
A huge roar greeted a curling, 36-foot birdie putt on the first green, before the Northern Irishman tapped in for another birdie on the second.
A towering iron shot into the fourth continued the momentum, dragging the Masters champion to within four shots of Scheffler before the leader had even teed off.
His putter went cold for the rest of the front nine, before a bogey on the 11th threatened to derail his round.
But the 36-year-old responded in style by tickling home a downhill, 56-foot eagle putt on the 12th to keep his hopes of a second British Open title alive, and bringing deafening cheers from the thousands of fans around the green.
Other movers on Saturday included reigning champion Xander Schauffele, who made two eagles to reach seven-under with one hole to play.
He is level with McIlroy and Robert MacIntyre, aiming to become Scotland's first major winner since Paul Lawrie 26 years ago.
Last year's runner-up Justin Rose, who lost to McIlroy in a play-off at the Masters in April, surged into the mix with four birdies in the space of five holes to get to six-under.
But the former world number one lost his momentum with a bogey on the eighth and was five-under with three holes to play.
Scheffler arrived at Portrush following a run of 10 successive top-10 finishes, featuring three wins including the PGA Championship.
Fitzpatrick is hoping to become the first English winner of the British Open since Nick Faldo won his third title in 1992.
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