Rory McIlroy holds a one stroke lead while Shane Lowry launched himself in the top-5 ahead of the final round of the Genesis Scottish Open.
Seeking a first ever professional tournament victory in Scotland, McIlroy maintained the one stroke lead he held on Friday evening after a three-under 67 in Gullane.
The World No. 3 briefly threatened to cut loose on Saturday, with two birdies on his opening three holes, followed by a couple more on the 7 and 10 lifting him to 14-under for the tournament, giving him a two-stroke lead.
However, bogeys on 12 and 15, partially offset by a birdie on the par-3 14th saw him sit on 13 under, one stroke clear of playing partner Trevor Kim heading into Sunday.
McIlroy admitted a first victory in Scotland was long overdue.
"It would be great. I've had a lot of close calls in Opens and Dunhill Links and all sorts of stuff, but it would be fantastic.
"I remember playing my first Scottish Open at Loch Lomond in 2005. It’s nice to reminisce and I’ve come a long way since then, but 18 years is too long for me to not pick up a trophy in this country."
Despite his momentum stalling as the round progressed, the Holywood man remained positive ahead of the final day.
"I felt like I played really good golf for those first 11 holes and made that first bogey on 12 and it was a little scrappy coming in from there," McIlroy said.
"But overall another solid day's play and put myself into a great position going into the final day.
"There’s a lot of great players behind me but it’s going to be difficult for everyone. When the wind gets like that there’s a lot of skill involved but it’s also just attitude and trying to stay upbeat when you’re probably going to get bad breaks here and there.
"The guy with the best attitude is going to have the best chance."
But for a closing bogey on the awkward final hole, Lowry would have registered a second 64. The 2019 Open Champion had seemingly put himself out of contention after a disappointing 71 on a day of low scoring on Thursday.
Lowry heaved himself back into contention with seven birdies en route to a 64 on Friday and continued in that vein on Day three.
Back-to-back birdies on the 3rd and 4th saw him post an outward nine of 33 before a stunning eagle on the par-5 10th. This was quickly followed by a birdie on the par-4 11th to reach 10-under par.
Lowry let slip his first dropped stroke of the day on 15 before responding with successive birdies on 16 and 17, the latter after drilling his approach at the short hole to 2ft.
.@ShaneLowryGolf 2ft from winning a brand new car and moves to within two of the lead 🎯#GenesisScottishOpen | #RolexSeries pic.twitter.com/wLlaucN4hZ
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) July 15, 2023
Now just two back off the lead, Lowry finished on a bum note after his iron approach from the rough charged through the green on 18 and he was unable to get up and down for par.
Lowry sits tied-fifth in a grouping containing Scottie Scheffler, who registered a 67 on Saturday, Eric Cole, Ben Am and JT Poston.
The big mover on Saturday was England's Tommy Fleetwood, who jumped to joint-third, who shot the low round of the day with a seven-under 63.
Fleetwood, who last won at the Nedbank Challenge in November, rattled in eight birdies with one bogey to sit on 11-under par alongside America's Brian Harman.
Padraig Harrington, in a strong shape on Friday, laboured to an even par round of 70 but remains inside the top-20 heading into the final round.
Additional reporting: PA
