Golf:Rory McIlroy shot a second 68 of the week but it is Rickie Fowler who has made all the running at the Memorial Tournament in Dublin, Ohio where the young American holds a three shot lead heading into today's final round.
Fowler carded a 69 to end the third round as he started it, holding a three-shot lead over his nearest challengers, Ricky Barnes (61) and Tim Petrovic (68).
After a day that included two long weather delays that stretched for six hours, Fowler finished shortly before sunset at Muirfield Village with a three under 69 that put him in with a strong chance to secure his first PGA Tour title.
Fowler sets the pace on 16 under 200, with Barnes and Petrovic tied for second on 13 under. England’s Justin Rose (70) was another shot behind after finishing with two late bogeys.
"These last three days I've hit the ball well, kept it out of trouble and given myself some looks at birdie," said Fowler. "So I knew the opportunities were going to come around and the course was there to be had."
Fowler said he would not be intimidated by the game's biggest names on Sunday, because they were not in contention.
"Those guys that are normally around, they aren't around, but it doesn't really change my outlook," added the 21-year-old. "I'm just going to stick to my game plan."
McIlroy, Fowler’s 2007 Walker Cup opponent at Royal County Down, was just outside the top 10 after a five birdie round, and a dropped shot at the 15th, moved the Holywood star up to eight under.
The fans who waited out the long morning weather delay to watch world number one Tiger Woods were treated to a golfing clinic, but instead it was from his playing partner Barnes, who shot 10 under to move into contention.
Barnes picked up four strokes on the front nine, and he also birdied the par-four 10th, before making eagle at the par-five 11th, where he holed out from 108 yards, a shot that revved up the gallery.
"Irons were probably the main key to my round," said Barnes, who led into the final round at last year's US Open, before finishing tied for second.
"I got away with a few bad drives but other than that hit a lot of greens and took advantage of my (opportunities)."
Woods, meanwhile, shot 69, leaving the defending champion 10 strokes off the lead and he refused requests for interviews and autographs afterwards, despite hardly playing a bad shot over the final eight holes.
The only blemish on his card was a double bogey at 10, where he blocked his drive into the back yard of a house adjacent to the fairway and he did not even bother looking for his ball.