Horschel Now Tied with McIlroy at Tour Championship


Second-round pacesetter Billy Horschel was sailing along with a two-stroke lead midway through the third round Saturday. But two bogeys on the back nine brought him back to the field in the $8 million Tour Championship, the PGA Tour's season-ending event at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta.

The late dropped shots by Horschel, winner of last week's BMW Championship in Denver, gave the 27-year-old Floridian a 1-under 69, a 54-hole total of 9-under-par 201 and a tie for the lead with No. 1-ranked Rory McIlroy, who posted a 67.

McIlroy had three birdies, an eagle on the par-5 15th hole, and two bogeys to catch Horschel, who's led or shared the lead after the first three rounds of the championship. The duo will be paired in Sunday's final round.

"It's going to be an exciting day," Horschel said his match-up with the 25-year-old Northern Irishman. Despite his missteps on the back nine, Horschel has managed 11 straight rounds in the 60s during the FedEx Cup playoffs.

Chris Kirk, the winner of the Deutsche Bank Championship in Boston two weeks ago, entered Atlanta as the top-ranked player in the FedEx Cup standings. The 29-year-old from Tennessee was followed in the top-five by Horschel, Bubba Watson, McIlroy and The Barclays' champion Hunter Mahan.

If one of the top-five wins the Tour Championship, they'll also capture the Cup. The player atop the standings at the end of the Tour Championship will earn a $10 million bonus.

McIlroy would cap off his remarkable season - which already includes two major titles, the British Open and PGA Championship - with a victory Sunday.

"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," he told reporters. "Would it be poetic justice? I'd feel really good about it."

Alone in third at 7-under 203 is Jim Furyk, who also shot a 67, while only three behind the co-leaders are Rickie Fowler (67), England's Justin Rose (66) and Australian Jason Day (70).

Sharing seventh at 205 are Russell Henley (67), Ryan Palmer (69) and Kirk (71). Australia's Adam Scott had a 65 to rise into solo 10th at 206, while Watson carded a 67 to get to 207.

Matt Kuchar posted a 69 and is at 208, while another stroke back is Gary Woodland, who fired, a 7-under 63, the tournament's low round so far. Sitting at even-par 210 are Spain's Sergio Garcia (70) and Cameron Tringale (74).

Tied for 16th at 211 are Americans Jimmy Walker (69) and Kevin Na (75), with 2011 FedEx Cup champion Bill Haas (73) at 212, Japan's Hideki Matsuyama (71) at 213 and Zach Johnson (72) at 214.

Martin Kaymer of Germany (73) and Patrick Reed (74) share 21st at 5-over 215; another shot back are Australia's John Senden (69) and American Morgan Hoffman (73).

Mahan has shot rounds of 74, 72 and 71 and enters Sunday tied for 25th with Brendon Todd (72) at 217. Rounding out the leaderboard are Webb Simpson (72) at 218, Jordan Spieth (80) at 221 and Geoff Ogilvy at 17-over 227.

After four bogeys, a double on the par-3 sixth and a birdie at the par-5 ninth, things didn't get any better for Spieth. The 21-year-old from Dallas recorded six bogeys and another birdie for his 10-over effort.

The top-30 players in the Playoff standings qualified for the Tour Championship. Because No. 30 Dustin Johnson is on indefinite leave, only 29 players teed it up Thursday at the no-cut event in Atlanta.

For all the scores, visit http://www.pgatour.com/leaderboard.html.