Scottie Scheffler marched through the overnight leaders to seize control at the PGA Championship on a day when Rory McIlroy's challenge failed to ignite at Quail Hollow.
Scheffler cruised through his third round and eventually signed for a stunning 65 as he moved from five-under-par overall to be solo leader on 11-under, a 10-foot birdie on the last closing out a wonderful round.
"You work your whole life to have a chance to win major tournaments," said Scheffler. "Tomorrow I have a good opportunity to go out there and try and win but it's going to take another really good round."
Sweden's Alex Noren will join Scheffler in the final group after his excellent round of 66 got him to eight-under heading into the final day.
Overnight leader Jhonattan Vegas stuttered to a bogey-bogey start but gathered himself to ensure he remained in contention. The Venezuelan is five shots off the lead going into the final day after carding a 73 which included a frustrating three-putt on the final green.
Two-time major winner Jon Rahm thrust himself into contention with a round of 67 to sit on six-under.
The former US Open and Masters champion made light work of the windy conditions with seven birdies – including three in a row from the 14th – as he bids to win the third leg of a career grand slam.
There was one significant errant shot however when Rahm's pulled approach to the 11th hole at Quail Hollow appeared to hit a male spectator on the back of the head and rebounded all the way across the green into the rough.
The man shrugged off what looked a sickening blow and shared a hug with Rahm after being handed a signed glove by the former world number one.
Bryson DeChambeau looked sure to be right at the pinnacle of the action but a double-bogey after finding water on the par-three 17th slowed his roll as he eventually carded a 69 that left him on five-under-par overall.
McIlroy’s round summed up his week. He huffed, puffed and blew very little down as he signed for a one-over 72 to remain on one-over-par overall - a thus far underwhelming performance from the game’s latest career grand slam winner to lie 13 shots adrift of Scheffler.
Denied the chance to play early in windless conditions because of a three and a half hour weather delay, he drove out of bounds right at the 15th (his sixth) and fired another drive into a lake right at the seventh as he mixed two birdies with three bogeys in a one-over 72.
McIlroy struggled in the 25 mph gusts as he drove out of bounds at the 15th – his sixth – found water at the seventh and mixed two birdies with three bogeys.
For the third day running he declined to speak to the media as he avoided speaking about equipment issues after it emerged he was asked to change the head of his driver because it was found to be non-conforming.
Results are meant to be confidential, with the PGA of America issuing a statement to clarify the process and insisting they had no concerns over "player intent".
McIlroy’s fellow Irishman, Tom McKibbin, knocked it around in 74 to sit on two-over overall, alongside McIlroy.
