Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry five back heading into final round of Zurich Classic

Newly-crowned Masters champion Rory McIlroy and his European Ryder Cup teammate Shane Lowry fired an 11-under 61 in the third round but they find themselves five shots off the pace at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans.

The defending champions started the third round of the PGA Tour's team event at TPC Louisiana six strokes behind the leaders. 

McIlroy, 35, and Lowry, 38, are looking to become the first ever team to successfully defend the title. 

The Irish duo combined for eight birdies and two eagles to reach 22-under par in Saturday's easier better-ball fourballs format. 

McIlroy drained a 30-footer on 18 to bring the house down. 

At the time it moved them into a tie for the lead, but the leading groups still had the back nine to play. 

By day's end, in-form Andrew Novak and Ben Griffin also fired a 61 to move to 27-under par. 

Novak and Griffin now assume a three-shot lead over Jake Knapp and Frankie Capan III (60) and Ryo Hisatsune and Takumi Kanaya (61) heading into the final round.

Danish twins Nicolai Hojgaard and Rasmus Hojgaard (64) are a further shot back on 23-under par alongside 36-hole leaders Isaiah Salinda and Kevin Velo (66).

Novak and Griffin are both looking to win their first titles on the PGA Tour despite a number of close calls in recent years, especially Novak who was agonisingly denied in a playoff by Justin Thomas at last week's RBC Heritage. 

Other than Knapp, everyone else in the top five heading into the final round is also seeking a first win on the PGA Tour. 

Sunday's final round is the tougher alternate-shot foursomes format. 

The winning team will take home $1.3m each, and potentially even more importantly for a number of players who have yet to register a victory on the PGA Tour, a two-year exemption on the circuit. 

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