Rory McIlroy sends message to the field after 63 on moving day at Tour Championsip

Rory McIlroy says he's right back in the tournament after making a surge up the leaderboard on moving day at the Tour Championship.

The reigning Masters champion looked as though he was unlikely to win the FedEx Cup for the fourth time in his career after finding himself seven shots adrift of the lead at the halfway stage at East Lake Golf Club in Altlanta. 

But a 7-under 63 saw the 37-year-old reach 10-under after 54 holes, five behind leader Viktor Hovland. America's Ryan Gerard is one stroke adrift of the Norwegian, whilst Adam Scott, Ludvig Aberg, Chris Gotterup and world number one Scottie Scheffler are nicely positioned.  

"I got myself back in the tournament," McIlroy said. 

"I would say, if I were to go out tomorrow and shoot the same score as I did today, I'd say that would have a very, very good chance."

Playing alongside Si Woo Kim, it looked as though McIlroy was going to endure another frustrating afternoon after he found himself 1-over for the day after two holes. 

But birdies at the 3rd, 4th, 6th and 7th saw him turn in 32. 

McIlroy set up another birdie by flagging an approach at the 10th but dropped a shot at the par-3 11th after missing the green left. 

He rebounded with another birdie and also made safe pars at the 13th and 14th. 

A stretch of three birdies in the row from the 15th saw McIlroy reach 10-under. 

He was likely eyeing picking up another stroke at the par-5 18th but drew an horrific lie with his tee shot. 

McIlroy attempted to lay up but his golf ball darted left and came to rest on the 1st fairway. In previous years, that spot has been out of bounds but not in 2026.

Still, McIlroy found the green and watched his birdie putt from around 20 feet just slide by.

"I think the difference today was I just putted a bit better," he said. I putted a lot better. 

"I think I lost maybe a combined three [strokes] on the greens over the first two days and I probably gained over three on the greens today. 

"So back to sort of even for the week.The ball striking has been there. 

"I think I was second in ball striking to Gary Woodland the first couple days. It was another good display today. Hit some nice iron shots, drove it well for the most part.

"I still felt like I played okay the last couple days, just wasn't getting as much out of my game as I wanted to. I pieced it together today and ended up obviously with a better score."

McIlroy won the FedEx Cup for the first time in 2016 and again in 2019 and 2022.

"Look, it's great to have another opportunity," he added. 

"I played in the final group last week with Wyndham [Clark] and got myself in a really good position to try to win the tournament, and it didn't quite happen. 

"To shoot a good one today to get myself right back in there second week in a row to try to win a tournament, they're good steps, positive steps, steps in the right direction.

"It's the last round of the PGA Tour season. I've still got a lot of golf left this year, but it will be nice to go out and give it a really good run tomorrow to finish this season over in the States."

McIlroy has played a reduced schedule this year. 

Since defending his Masters title, he has only played five official PGA Tour events in the United States.

It looked as though he was going to skip the first playoff event in Memphis three weeks ago but appeared to change his mind.

"I think once you start to lose your enthusiasm to go to the course, it's time to take a break," he said.

"If I'm going to show up to a tournament, I want to perform at my best and play my best, and there's been times when I haven't done that.

"It's frustrating to me, but it's also at the same time like no one wants to see me just go through the motions and be out there. 

"This is my third week in a row. I rarely do that anymore. 

"I feel like that's my limit, like if I had to tee it up again next week - like when the playoffs used to be four events instead of three, that to me is tough.

"I think the last time I played four in a row might have been in 2024, and in the fourth week, I was like: 'I'm done. I'm never doing this again'.

"Again, I'm 37. I've been at this, this is my 18th or 19th year as a pro. Maybe my fuse is a little shorter than it used to be."