OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Rory McIlroy found his energy level low amid the busy schedule and stifling summer heat. A good night of sleep and posting his lowest start in nearly a year at the BMW Championship on Thursday seemed to do the trick. RELATED: Full leaderboard | FedExCup update: Bubble boy Rory McIlroy edges closer to TOUR Championship McIlroy holed an eagle putt from just outside 10 feet on the par-5 16th at Caves Valley on his way to an 8-under 64, giving him a share of the lead with Jon Rahm and Sam Burns. Three days after heaving his 3-wood over the fence on his final hole at Liberty National, McIlroy used his new club — an old 3-wood he found in his garage — to smash a 285-yard shot up the hill and over a bunker that set up his eagle putt to move into a share of the lead. McIlroy hasn’t opened with a score this low since a 64 at the TOUR Championship last year, and that’s where he’s trying to return. He is No. 28 in the FedExCup, and only the top 30 after the BMW Championship make it to East Lake. “I’ve went through playoff stretches before where you’re always in that lead group. You’re either 1, 2 or 3 in the FedExCup, and that can sort of take its mental toll,” he said. “I’m in a position where I need to play well just to play next week. There is an element of free-wheeling.” As for Rahm, he is rested and relentless as ever. The U.S. Open champion and world No. 1 had five birdies on the front and kept bogeys off his card for a 64. It was the 15th time in his last 17 rounds dating to Sunday at the PGA Championship that he shot in the 60s. Rahm is coming off a third-place finish in the FedExCup playoffs opener last week at Liberty National, losing a two-shot lead on the back nine. That might have bothered him more in the past, except that he was thrilled for Tony Finau, and he’s become a fan of Ted Lasso. The Spaniard as strong as a bull prefers to be a goldfish. “Happiest animal in the world is a goldfish. You know why? He’s got a 10-second memory,” Rahm said, reciting a famous line from the Ted Lasso series. “Played great golf last week, just a couple of bad swings down the stretch, and that’s the most important thing to remember.” Burns also played bogey-free in posting his fourth score of 64 in his last eight rounds. While he’s set for the TOUR Championship, a big week at Caves Valley might make him a popular topic for one of the six captain’s picks for the Ryder Cup. It’s a tough position for several players either trying to get the sixth and final automatic spot on the U.S. team this week, or at least get Captain Steve Stricker’s attention. Burns is among those trying to think only of task at hand, whatever that may be. “Right now I’m focused on trying to give you the best answer I can, and after that I’ll try to figure out what I want to eat and just continue to do that over and over,” Burns said. What’s for lunch? “I haven’t seen the menu,” he said. Players were feasting on Caves Valley, just like they did at Liberty National last week, and that was to be expected. The course was soft from the rain Hurricane Henri dropped over the weekend, and players were allowed to lift, clean and place their golf balls in the short grass. Eighteen players were at 67 or lower, a group that included Sergio Garcia (65), Patrick Cantlay (66) and Finau, Xander Schauffele and Dustin Johnson (67). Is there anything to stop the best in the world? “Not a course that has fairways this wide,” Cantlay said. Finau won The Northern Trust last week in a playoff after he and Cameron Smith finished at 20-under 264. That looks to be what it will take at Caves Valley in these conditions. It was hot, dry and fast at Olympia Fields south of Chicago last year in the BMW Championship. Rahm won a playoff over Dustin Johnson at 4-under 276. Only three other players broke par. Such is the nature of an outdoor sport dependent on weather. Cantlay couldn’t be stopped once he saw a 15-foot putt drop for par on the ninth hole. He ripped off six birdies over his next seven holes, all but two of them from 18 feet or longer. “Hit it pretty average, chipped it pretty average and made everything,” he said. That recipe works anywhere. The heat and humidity could sap energy from anyone, and McIlroy has been feeling fatigued as much from his schedule. He went from the British Open to Tokyo for the Olympics — the heat index topped 100 degrees just about every day — and then to that cooler climate of Memphis, Tennessee in early August. After a week off, he faced as many as three straight FedExCup playoffs events. “I was super tired yesterday. But you get a good night’s sleep and you feel a little bit better the next day and you can go out and play well,” McIlroy said.
Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm, Sam Burns share lead at Caves Valley
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3rd Round Match-Ups – A. Noren v S. Lowry | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Alex Noren | -120 |
Shane Lowry | +100 |
3rd Round Match-Ups – B. DeChambeau v B. Koepka | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Brooks Koepka | -150 |
Bryson DeChambeau | +125 |
3rd Round Match-Ups – C. Smith v M. Homa | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Max Homa | -140 |
Cameron Smith | +115 |
3rd Round Match-Ups – T. Finau v T. Kim | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Tony Finau | -145 |
Tom Kim | +125 |
3rd Round Match-Ups – R. McIIroy v X. Schauffele | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Xander Schauffele | -115 |
Rory McIlroy | -105 |
3rd Round Match-Ups – K. Bradley v J. Spieth | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Jordan Spieth | -125 |
Keegan Bradley | +105 |
3rd Round Match-Ups – V. Hovland v J. Thomas | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Viktor Hovland | -115 |
Justin Thomas | -105 |
3rd Round Match-Ups – H. English v T. Detry | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Harris English | -125 |
Thomas Detry | +105 |
3rd Round Match-Ups – J. Day v M.W. Lee | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Jason Day | -120 |
Min Woo Lee | +100 |
3rd Round Match-Ups – C. Morikawa v S. Theegala | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Collin Morikawa | -145 |
Sahith Theegala | +120 |
3rd Round Match-Ups – P. Cantlay v C. Young | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Patrick Cantlay | -130 |
Cameron Young | +110 |
3rd Round Match-Ups – T. Hoge v W. Zalatoris | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Will Zalatoris | -150 |
Tom Hoge | +125 |
3rd Round Match-Ups – P. Cantlay vs J. Spieth | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Patrick Cantlay | -125 |
Jordan Spieth | +105 |
3rd Round Match-Ups – A. Eckroat vs T. Detry | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Austin Eckroat | -110 |
Thomas Detry | -110 |
3rd Round Match-Ups – H. English vs K. Bradley | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Harris English | -110 |
Keegan Bradley | -110 |
3rd Round Match-Ups – T. Finau vs B. Hun An | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Byeong Hun An | -115 |
Tony Finau | -105 |
3rd Round Match-Ups – L. Herbert vs T. Moore | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Taylor Moore | -140 |
Lucas Herbert | +115 |
3rd Round Match-Ups – T. Hoge vs M. McNealy | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Maverick McNealy | -120 |
Tom Hoge | +100 |
3rd Round Match-Ups – M. Hubbard vs A. Rai | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Aaron Rai | -115 |
Mark Hubbard | -105 |
3rd Round Match-Ups – S. Lowry vs K. Kitayama | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Kurt Kitayama | -110 |
Shane Lowry | -110 |
3rd Round Match-Ups – R. MacIntyre vs M. Wallace | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Matt Wallace | -110 |
Robert MacIntyre | -110 |
3rd Round Match-Ups – H. Matsuyama vs S. Theegala | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Hideki Matsuyama | -115 |
Sahith Theegala | -105 |
3rd Round Match-Ups – C. Morikawa vs B. DeChambeau | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Collin Morikawa | -115 |
Bryson DeChambeau | -105 |
3rd Round Match-Ups – A. Noren vs D. Burmester | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Dean Burmester | -115 |
Alex Noren | -105 |
3rd Round Match-Ups – X. Schauffele vs B. Koepka | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Xander Schauffele | -120 |
Brooks Koepka | +100 |
3rd Round Match-Ups – S. Scheffler vs R. McIIroy | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Scottie Scheffler | -150 |
Rory McIlroy | +125 |
3rd Round – Six Shooter – Group A – M. Homa / J. Day / P. Cantlay / M.W. Lee / C. Smith / J. Spieth | |
Type: 3rd Round – Six Shooter – Status: OPEN | |
Max Homa | +350 |
Cameron Smith | +400 |
Patrick Cantlay | +400 |
Jason Day | +475 |
Jordan Spieth | +475 |
Min Woo Lee | +475 |
3rd Round – Six Shooter – Group B – S. Scheffler / B. Koepka / R. McIIroy / B. DeChambeau / X. Schauffele / C. Morikawa | |
Type: 3rd Round – Six Shooter – Status: OPEN | |
Scottie Scheffler | +260 |
Rory McIlroy | +375 |
Brooks Koepka | +475 |
Xander Schauffele | +475 |
Bryson DeChambeau | +500 |
Collin Morikawa | +550 |
3rd Round – Six Shooter – Group C – V. Hovland / H. Matsuyama / B. Hun An / J. Thomas / S. Theegala / T. Finau | |
Type: 3rd Round – Six Shooter – Status: OPEN | |
Viktor Hovland | +330 |
Byeong Hun An | +400 |
Hideki Matsuyama | +450 |
Justin Thomas | +450 |
Sahith Theegala | +450 |
Tony Finau | +475 |
3rd Round – Six Shooter – Group D – H. English / R. MacIntyre / T. Detry / M. Wallace / A. Eckroat / M. Hubbard | |
Type: 3rd Round – Six Shooter – Status: OPEN | |
Harris English | +350 |
Thomas Detry | +400 |
Austin Eckroat | +425 |
Robert MacIntyre | +425 |
Matt Wallace | +450 |
Mark Hubbard | +475 |
Mizuho Americas Open | |
Type: Winner – Status: OPEN | |
Atthaya Thitikul | +250 |
Nelly Korda | +320 |
Gabriela Ruffels | +1800 |
Mao Saigo | +1800 |
So Mi Lee | +1800 |
Ariya Jutanugarn | +2200 |
Ayaka Furue | +2200 |
Jin Young Ko | +2800 |
Charley Hull | +3500 |
Megan Khang | +3500 |
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3rd Round 2 Balls – C. Ciganda / A. Valenzuela | |
Type: 3rd Round 2 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Carlota Ciganda | -120 |
Albane Valenzuela | +130 |
Tie | +750 |
3rd Round 2 Balls – A. Lee / M. Alex | |
Type: 3rd Round 2 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Alison Lee | -115 |
Marina Alex | +130 |
Tie | +750 |
3rd Round 2 Balls – M. Kang / S. Kemp | |
Type: 3rd Round 2 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Sarah Kemp | -110 |
Minji Kang | +120 |
Tie | +750 |
3rd Round 2 Balls – M. Khang / A. Lee | |
Type: 3rd Round 2 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Megan Khang | -105 |
Andrea Lee | +115 |
Tie | +750 |
3rd Round 2 Balls – M. Jutanugarn / A. Buhai | |
Type: 3rd Round 2 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Ashleigh Buhai | -105 |
Moriya Jutanugarn | +115 |
Tie | +750 |
3rd Round 2 Balls – Y. Nishimura / A. Furue | |
Type: 3rd Round 2 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Ayaka Furue | -135 |
Yuna Nishimura | +150 |
Tie | +750 |
Scottie Scheffler Specials | |
Type: Scottie Scheffler Specials – Status: OPEN | |
PGA Championship (Top 10 Finish) & US Open (Top 10 Finish) | -250 |
PGA Championship (Top 10 Finish) & The Open (Top 10 Finish) | -200 |
US Open (Top 10 Finish) & The Open (Top 10 Finish) | -150 |
PGA Championship (Top 10 Finish) & US Open (Top 10 Finish) & The Open (Top 10 Finish) | +125 |
PGA Championship (Top 5 Finish) & US Open (Top 5 Finish) | +125 |
PGA Championship (Top 5 Finish) & The Open (Top 5 Finish) | +150 |
US Open (Top 5 Finish) & The Open (Top 5 Finish) | +200 |
PGA Championship (Top 5 Finish) & US Open (Top 5 Finish) & The Open (Top 5 Finish) | +650 |
Win PGA Championship & US Open | +1200 |
Win PGA Championship & The Open | +1400 |
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3rd Round 2 Balls – P. Anannarukarn / N. Koerstz Madsen | |
Type: 3rd Round 2 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Nanna Koerstz Madsen | +105 |
Pajaree Anannarukarn | +105 |
Tie | +750 |
3rd Round 2 Balls – G. Ruffels / M. Saigo | |
Type: 3rd Round 2 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Gabriela Ruffels | -145 |
Mao Saigo | +160 |
Tie | +750 |
3rd Round 2 Balls – N. Korda / A. Jutanugarn | |
Type: 3rd Round 2 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Nelly Korda | -230 |
Ariya Jutanugarn | +250 |
Tie | +750 |
3rd Round 2 Balls – A. Thitikul / S. Mi Lee | |
Type: 3rd Round 2 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Atthaya Thitikul | -180 |
So Mi Lee | +200 |
Tie | +750 |
US Open 2024 | |
Type: Winner – Status: OPEN | |
Scottie Scheffler | +350 |
Rory McIlroy | +1100 |
Jon Rahm | +1200 |
Ludvig Aberg | +1600 |
Xander Schauffele | +1600 |
Collin Morikawa | +2000 |
Viktor Hovland | +2000 |
Brooks Koepka | +2500 |
Cameron Smith | +2500 |
Patrick Cantlay | +2500 |
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The Open Championship 2024 | |
Type: Winner – Status: OPEN | |
Scottie Scheffler | +500 |
Jon Rahm | +1000 |
Rory McIlroy | +1000 |
Viktor Hovland | +1100 |
Brooks Koepka | +2000 |
Cameron Smith | +2000 |
Cameron Young | +2000 |
Collin Morikawa | +2000 |
Ludvig Aberg | +2000 |
Jordan Spieth | +2500 |
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Requests | |
Type: Requests – Status: OPEN | |
The Open Championship – Alex Noren – Top 20 Finish | +175 |
Solheim Cup 2024 | |
Type: Winner – Status: OPEN | |
USA | -140 |
Europe | +135 |
Tie | +1200 |
Ryder Cup 2025 | |
Type: Winner – Status: OPEN | |
USA | -135 |
Europe | +135 |
Tie | +1000 |