Canadian Open: Rory McIlroy, Tommy Fleetwood & Justin Rose two off lead

McIlroy won past year's Canadian Open by 2 strokes

Rory McIlroy stepped up his bid for a 3rd successive Canadian Open rubric by moving into a necktie for 2nd spot heading into the last round.

McIlroy is successful a radical of six players connected 12 nether which includes England's Tommy Fleetwood and Justin Rose.

Americans Mark Hubbard, Harry Higgs and Andrew Novak are besides connected 12 under, with England's Aaron Rai a changeable back.

Rai changeable a 69 to stock eighth spot with Canada's Nick Taylor, who broke the Oakdale Golf and Country Club people grounds with a 63.

McIlroy is aiming to go the archetypal subordinate to triumph 3 consecutive Canadian Opens - played implicit 5 years due to the fact that of Covid cancellations - and the archetypal successful immoderate PGA Tour lawsuit since Steve Stricker won the John Deere Classic from 2009 to 2011.

McIlroy carded six birdies successful improved conditions aft Friday's rain.

"It was premier for scoring," said McIlroy, who volition effort to triumph a 2nd US Open successful Los Angeles adjacent week.

"It's truly that backmost 9 you request to instrumentality vantage of. But it was bully to benignant of person what I felt was a cushion aft playing the beforehand 9 truthful well."

Last week the PGA Tour and DP World Tour announced a daze merger with LIV Golf, which is funded by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund.

McIlroy, who has been a professional of LIV Golf, said helium felt similar "a sacrificial lamb" since the announcement.

• McIlroy and Rose hold connected merger silence
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"For immoderate reason, I look to play amended erstwhile there's a small spot of sound going connected successful the satellite of golf," helium said.

"It's truly bully to get wrong the ropes and conscionable ore connected my occupation astatine the extremity of the day, which is trying to get the shot astir the play course."

Rose, who won the US Open 10 years ago, birdied 5 consecutive holes from the 12th and added different connected the past to paper a 66, portion Fleetwood - yet to triumph a tourney successful the US - would person matched the people grounds with his 64 had it not been for Taylor's superb earlier round.

Pan, chasing a 2nd circuit title, birdied the last 2 holes successful a circular of 66, portion halfway person Carl Yuan of China changeable a 74 to gaffe into associated 16th connected 7 under.