Horschel jumps into lead, McIlroy stumbles

CHERRY HILLS VILLAGE, United States: Billy Horschel, who is determined to put Monday´s tough finish fast behind him, fired a third-round 63 to vault three shots clear of the field at the BMW Championship.

Horschel capped his bogey-free round at the Cherry Hills Country Club by rolling in a 32-foot birdie putt on No. 18.

It was a far cry from his final hole at the Deutsche Bank Championship on Monday when he chunked his second shot well short into the hazard and had to settle for a bogey. Horschel finished in a tie for second place after having arrived at the 18th tee just one shot behind winner Chris Kirk.

Tell that to world number one Rory McIlroy, who suffered the ignominy of a triple-bogey in his third round.

McIlroy´s assault threatened to dissolve as he four putted on the par-three 12th. The Northern Irishman ended up posting a 72, which dropped him into a tie for 10th at four-under 206.

Horschel ended 54 holes at 13-under-par 197 at the $8 million Colorado PGA Tour event.

Ryan Palmer, who was runner-up at the Humana Challenge and The Honda Classic, posted a 67 and is alone in second on 200.US Open champion Martin Kaymer (64) and Masters winner Bubba Watson (66) share third place at eight-under 202, five shots adrift of Horschel but still in the hunt.

But the day belonged to the 27-year-old American Horschel, who had seven birdies and 11 pars.Horschel, of Jacksonville Beach, Florida, matched the tournament´s 54-hole scoring record with his total of 197.

Camilo Villegas set the mark in 2008 at Bellerive golf course and Tiger Woods matched it a year later at the Cog Hill course. Horschel is projected to move to first place in the FedEx Cup points standings with a victory at Cherry Hills.

On Saturday, Horschel drained a 22-foot birdie chance on the 14th and followed it up with an eight-foot birdie on the next hole. His run was briefly stopped with a par at the 16th.

On the par-five 17th, Horschel´s second shot landed on the green. He then two-putted for birdie to move to 12-under. He was already alone in the lead when he posted another birdie at No. 18. (AFP)