CHARLOTTE, North Carolina — Rory McIlroy shot his lowest score as a professional, a course-record 11-under-par 61, to charge into the lead after the third round at the Wells Fargo Championship on Saturday.
The Northern Irishman used an astonishing display of long driving to overpower the Quail Hollow course with 11 birdies.
He posted an 18-under 198 total to open a four-shot lead over American Webb Simpson (68).
McIlroy's 61 bettered by one stroke the course he previously held jointly with Brendon de Jonge.
"I looked at the scores in the morning and saw there were some low scores out there," the world number one told reporters.