Dustin Johnson, Hideki Matsuyama share BMW Championship lead; Rory McIlroy falls

Sacha Pisani

•
Dustin Johnson, Hideki Matsuyama share BMW Championship lead; Rory McIlroy falls image

FedEx Cup leader Dustin Johnson and Hideki Matsuyama are tied for the BMW Championship lead following Saturday's third round.

American star Johnson and Japan's Matsuyama both carded 69s to top the leaderboard at 1 under through 54 holes in Illinois, where the pair hold a two-stroke advantage.

Johnson cruised to victory at last week's opening FedEx Cup playoff event, The Northern Trust, and he has maintained his form at the Olympia Fields Country Club. Projected to retain his position atop the FedEx Cup standings ahead of Matsuyama, two-time BMW Championship winner Johnson had three birdies and two bogeys to rise two positions on Day 3.

Matsuyama — a five-time PGA Tour champion but without a title since 2017 — enjoyed a mixed day, with an eagle, two birdies and three bogeys in tough scoring conditions.

BMW CHAMPIONSHIP: Tee times, TV coverage, live stream

Joaquin Niemann (68), Mackenzie Hughes (69) and Adam Scott (70) are tied for third at 1 over heading into Sunday's final round. 

Four-time major champion Rory McIlroy is among six players a shot further back following his 3-over-par 73. McIlroy was the co-leader heading into the penultimate round but the former world No. 1 and 2012 winner struggled — five bogeys and just two birdies — and slid down the leaderboard.

Jon Rahm (66), Sebastian Munoz (67), Kevin Kisner (70), Bubba Watson (70) and Brendon Todd (71) are also 2 over. Defending champion Justin Thomas (71), meanwhile, is 8 over following his third consecutive round in the 70s.

Tiger Woods' struggles continued, and the 15-time major champion looks set to miss out on the Tour Championship ahead of the U.S. Open.

The top 30 in the FedEx Cup standings will qualify for the Tour Championship, where Woods is a three-time champion. The 44-year-old is projected to be 65th.

Sacha Pisani