ATLANTA — Rory McIlroy made up a two-shot deficit on Billy Horschel at the Tour Championship on Saturday, setting up a $10 million showdown to end the PGA Tour season.
McIlroy overcame a pair of three-putt bogeys by rolling in a 25-foot eagle putt on the 15th hole and closed with a tough chip from thick grass behind the 18th green that allowed him to save par for a 3-under-par 67.
Horschel led by as many as three shots during the third round at East Lake until he dropped two shots on the back nine and had to settle for a 69.
They were at 9-under 201. And they had plenty of company in what was shaping up as one of the most enticing finishes in the eight-year history of the FedEx Cup.
Jim Furyk, winless since he captured the FedEx Cup four years ago, had a 67 and was two shots behind.
Rickie Fowler (67), Justin Rose (66) and Jason Day (70) were three shots behind.
“It’s going to be an exciting day,” Horschel said after posting his 11th consecutive round in the 60s during the FedEx Cup playoffs.
McIlroy has been losing a little energy since high-charged performances carried him to major titles in the British Open and PGA Championship. He knows he’s already had the best year, and he would like nothing better than to end it right.
“I’ve come here with the ultimate goal of trying to cap it off and trying to put an exclamation point on it or the icing on the cake or whatever you want to call it,” McIlroy said. “Would it be poetic justice? I’d feel really good about it.”
Horschel, coming off a runner-up finish at the TPC Boston and a victory last week at Cherry Hills, stretched his lead to three shots with a 6-foot birdie putt on No. 8.
McIlroy appeared to be in trouble at the par-3 11th until the world’s No. 1 player chipped to 8 feet and saved par, and Horschel missed his 15-foot birdie attempt.
“My short game really saved me today,” McIlroy said.
