Rory McIlroy FIRMLY in contention at Wells Fargo Championship after third round

Rory McIlroy remained in the thick of things at the Wells Fargo Championship after carding a third-round score of 3-under-par to lie in second place.

The Northern Irishman, who has won twice at this event in his career, is just two shots behind Keith Mitchell, who shot a superb 66 on Saturday at Quail Hollow Golf Club to finish on 9-under-par.

McIlroy had a scintillating start to his round, making four birdies on the front nine to lead the event for the first time this week.

Back-to-back birdies. @McIlroyRory is tied for the lead @WellsFargoGolf. pic.twitter.com/8SYCCQHpXB

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) May 8, 2021

The 32-year-old found difficulty on the par-4 12th hole, where a drive to the left of the fairway led to a double-bogey and he dropped back to 6-under-par for the tournament.

McIlroy bounced back at the par-5 15th hole with another birdie and he would par the rest to finish on 7-under-par in second place, and firmly in contention heading into Sunday.

The 18-time PGA Tour winner joked on Friday about how he had finally made the weekend at a tournament, having missed three of his last six cuts, but we could see McIlroy become the first player to win the Wells Fargo Championship three times this week.

Mitchell began the day two shots behind the overnight leaders on 4-under-par, but the 29-year-old fired a 5-under-par 66, which was the lowest round of the day.

The World No. 249 made five birdies and didn't make a bogey all day at Quail Hollow, to take a two-shot lead on 9-under-par heading into the final round.

2019 US Open champion Gary Woodland co-led with Patrick Rodgers and Matt Wallace overnight, and the American carded a 1-under-par 70 on Saturday to finish on 7-under-par in a tie for second with McIlroy.

NEXT PAGE: BRYSON DECHAMBEAU LEAVES WELLS FARGO CHAMPIONSHIP BEFORE REALISING CUT LINE