Tommy Fleetwood closes in on first PGA Tour title โ€” but Scottie Scheffler and Justin Rose lurk at FedEx St Jude Championship


Tommy Fleetwood will head into the final round of the FedEx St Jude Championship with a one-shot lead as he continues the hunt for his first Tour title.

Fleetwood fired a one-under 69 in the third round, just edging out fellow Englishman Justin Rose.

The tension between the two rose early in the round after Fleetwood double-bogeyed the third hole while Rose made birdie, a three-shot swing that dramatically cut into the 34-year-oldโ€™s lead.

Fleetwood responded well, rebuilding his lead to three shots. But his advantage narrowed again on the 18th hole, where a drive into the rough led to a bogey.

World No 1 Scottie Scheffler also hurled himself into contention with six birdies, finishing Saturday two shots off the lead on 65.

JJ Spaun and Andrew Novak are a shot further back, tied for fourth on 11 under par.

โ€œItโ€™s just another opportunity for me to go out and try and have the best round of golf I can, enjoy being in that position,โ€ Fleetwood told the PGA Tour website.

โ€œThe more I put myself there, the more chance there is of it happening, and just go out and keep learning from every experience.

Justin Rose is a shot behind his compatriot Tommy Fleetwood

Justin Rose is a shot behind his compatriot Tommy Fleetwood (IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

โ€œIt might be my day, it might not, but being there is the most important thing and Iโ€™ll continue to try and do that.โ€

Only the top 70 in the season-long FedEx rankings have qualified for the event, although Rory McIlroy opted not to play this week, with the top 50 after the tournament reaching next weekโ€™s BMW Championship.

The top 30 after that will contest the Tour Championship in pursuit of a $10m (ยฃ7.4m) bonus.

PA

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