Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
Sport
Eamon Doggett

How much could Rory McIlroy win? McIlroy surges into contention for mammoth FedEx Cup payday

Rory McIlroy has soared into contention at the Tour Championship after a third round 63.

McIlroy is in second place and will go out in the final group at East Lake Golf Club although he is six shots behind leader Scottie Scheffler.

The Holywood golfer began the day some nine shots adrift of the 19-under-par American, who began the week on ten-under-par (McIlroy started at four-under-par) as leader of the FedEx Cup.

READ MORE: Inside McIlroy and Woods' 'golf revolution' including NBA-style intros

Needing a fast start, McIlroy birdied the second and third holes with precise iron shots before a wayward drive led to a bogey on the fourth hole.

But the two-time FedEx Cup champion then hit a sensational approach into less than three feet at the par five sixth hole to make an eagle - his second time eagling the hole this week.

A birdie on the eight hole saw McIlroy make the turn in 31 strokes and he was gaining on Scheffler who initially couldn't find the birdies that were coming easy to him during the opening two days.

McIlroy then birdied the par four 13th hole and saw a birdie putt from seven feet lip out on the 16th hole before play was stopped for lightning in the area.

He came back to finish off his third round on Sunday morning and duly birdied his last two holes to shoot a seven-under-par 63.

On the line is the richest prize in golf as the winner will walk away some $18,000,000 (€18,062,100) richer.

There is a huge $11,5000,000 difference between first and second place, with $6,500,000 going to the runner-up.

McIlroy is looking to become the first man to win the FedEx Cup for the third time.

At the moment only he and Tiger Woods have won the season finale on two occasions.

The prize fund

Winner: $18,000,000

2: $6,500,000

3: $5,000,000

4: $4,000,000

5: $3,000,000

6: $2,500,000

7: $2,000,000

8: $1,500,000

9: $1,250,000

10: $1,000,000

READ NEXT:

Get the latest sports headlines straight to your inbox by signing up for free email alerts

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.