McIlroy and Koepka face Sunday showdown in Memphis

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Rory McIlroy called it a “PGATOUR dreamâ€� and he might be right. The former FedExCup champion took the 54-hole lead at the World Golf Championships – FedEx St. Jude Invitational by on3 shot over Brooks Koepka, the current PGA TOUR Player of the Year who is favored to once again take that title. But not if McIlroy has his way. The Northern Irishman shot an impressive 8-under 62 on Saturday to get to 12 under at TPC Southwind. Koepka hit 17 of 18 greens on his way to a 6-under 64. He lurks at 11 under. There are most certainly others in this field who can win the tournament – Matt Fitzpatrick (69) is 10 under, Marc Leishman (63) surged to 9 under where he’s joined by Jon Rahm (68) and Alex Noren (66), and Ian Poulter (67) is in part of a three-way tie for seventh at 8 under with Thorbjorn Olesen (65) and Billy Horschel (69). But all eyes will be on the big guns out front. They are battling not just for the tournament, but top spot in the Wyndham Rewards Top 10 regular season race. Should either salute in Memphis, they are guaranteed top spot and the $2 million bonus that comes with it. “PGA TOUR dream, it’s perfect,â€� McIlroy smiled. “I want to go into New York No. 1 in those points because it’s important, and I want to try to stay up there as high as possible and I’m going up again against the best player in the world. He’s won four majors in the last three years. “It’s going to be a fun day tomorrow, I’m excited about it. I got to play alongside him the first two days and his game looked awfully impressive. So I need to go out and try and focus on myself and put a sort of thought or target in my head and just try and go for that.â€� Taking top spot into the FedExCup Playoffs will bring huge momentum as they look to claim the season long crown. The pair are no doubt the favorites to win it all. Both have two wins this season. McIlroy took out THE PLAYERS Championship and the RBC Canadian Open. He was runner up at the World Golf Championships – Mexico Championship and has 11 Top 10s this season including the PGA Championship and U.S. Open. He sat third in the FedExCup leading into the week. Koepka won the PGA Championship and THE CJ CUP @ NINE BRIDGES. He was also runner up three times including The Masters and the U.S. Open. He has a total of seven top 10s including a T4 at the Open Championship. He led the FedExCup coming in to Memphis. “There’s a lot on the line and a lot to play for,â€� Koepka admitted. “It will be fun duking it out with him. I don’t know the last time we’ve actually gone kind of toe to toe. I can’t think of anything. But that’s who you want to go up against, especially if he’s going to be playing this good. “You want the best players coming down the stretch on Sunday with a chance to win. This golf course I think really brings out some of the better players.â€� In fact, the pair have never been paired together in a final group, or any final round, on the TOUR. In the nine times they’ve played together on the TOUR, including the opening two rounds this week, McIlroy holds a slender 4-3-2 advantage. McIlroy came into the tournament having missed the cut at The Open Championship. Koepka finished fourth in tough conditions. Koepka brings momentum to Memphis; McIlroy is more rested which could be critical in the Tennessee heat. McIlroy also has a habit of playing well lately after missing cuts. “We’re very fortunate in golf that there’s always next week. You can respond so quickly from setbacks and failures. The last four missed cuts that I’ve had, I’ve finished first, second, first and 12th. I’m a quick learner,â€� McIlroy said. “But tomorrow’s a new day. Whatever happened today is great but I’ve got to reset and try and go again tomorrow. Hopefully Brooks and I can add a bit of excitement tomorrow.â€� Chances are they will.  

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