Rory McIlroy's bid for back-to-back PGA Tour titles faltered overnight as he slipped back to five shots off the lead at the Genesis Invitational in San Diego.
A round of 67 had moved the Co Down man into contention on Friday but he shot his worst round of the week - a 74 - to fall to three under par and a share of eighth.
Patrick Rodgers leads after carding a four-under 68 to move to eight under par, one stroke clear of Denny McCarthy.
McIlroy opened with five consecutive pars before bogeying the sixth and eighth holes. He did, however, get a shot back on the ninth to stay in the hunt.
But a double-bogey on the 16th was a setback and, although McIlroy composed himself to birdie the last, he will likely need his round of the week if he's to lift the trophy.
Rodgers picked up two shots on the front nine and three down the stretch before finishing with a bogey on the par-five 18th.
Sweden's Ludvig Aberg sits two shots back in outright third, thanks largely to an ace on the 140-yard par-three third.
Seamus Power is on level par after matching McIlroy's round of 74.
It was an eventful day for the Waterford man who bogeyed the first, before picking up shots on seven, nine, 13 and 18. But he mixed in consecutive double bogeys on 11 and 12 with a further dropped shot on 16 to finish the day eight strokes off the lead.
Shane Lowry is in a share of 45th on four over after also shooting 74. A double bogey on the par-four seventh took the shine off an up-and-down round that featured three birdies and as many bogeys, including one on 18.
Additional reporting: PA
