Scheffler seizes PGA Championship lead ahead of final round
Scottie Scheffler has produced a brilliant finish to claim a three-stroke lead ahead of the PGA Championship's final round at Quail Hollow Club in Charotte, North Carolina.
World number one Scheffler was forced to deal with testing weather conditions during the third round, firing a 6-under-par 65 that was little short of brilliant under the circumstances.
The start of the third round was delayed due to lightning in the Charlotte area.
A two-time Masters champion, Scheffler is 11-under with one round remaining, while Sweden's Alex Noren vaulted into second place with a similarly barnstorming finish for a 66.
Noren, who birdied four of the final five holes, was alone on 8-under.
Americans Davis Riley (67) and JT Poston (68) were four shots behind in a tie for third.
Adam Scott is the best-placed Australian, sharing 13th position on 4-under for the tournament.
Scott managed a 2-under 69 in the third round, while compatriot Cam Davis (70) is a stroke back on 3-under through 54 holes.
Scheffler was far from perfect with three bogeys, but he more than made up for those blemishes with seven birdies and a brilliant eagle at the driveable par-four 14th hole, where he hit his tee shot to inside three feet.
He added birdies at the 15th, 17th and 18th holes to stamp himself as the favourite.
"I hung in really well today," Scheffler said.
"I just battled really hard. Did a good job of staying patient and hit some nice shots. I definitely struck the ball a lot better today than the last couple of days."
Overnight leader Jhonattan Vegas of Venezuela fell into a tie for fifth with a bogey on the 18th hole.
He finished 2-over (73) for the day and is 6-under for the tournament alongside South Korea's Kim Si-woo (71) and Spain's Jon Rahm (67).
Masters champion Rory McIlroy continued his struggles with a 72 to trail Scheffler by 13 shots.
The third of the Australians left in the tournament, Elvis Smylie, had a day to forget with a 6-over 77.
Smylie is 7-over to be tied for 69th place on the leaderboard.
AP/ABC
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