Monster birdie gives heckled MacIntyre four-stroke lead at BMW C'ship

Robert MacIntyre closed with a 41-foot birdie putt to grab a four-stroke lead over top-ranked Scottie Scheffler after Saturday's third round of the US PGA Tour BMW Championship.

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The 29-year-old Scotsman, runner-up to JJ Spaun at June's US Open, fired a two-under par 68 to stand on 16-under 194 after 54 holes at Caves Valley in suburban Baltimore.

"The day was tough," MacIntyre said. "It wasn't the plain sailing of the first two days, but I thought I managed it well.

"It was steady. Holed some nice par putts, missed a couple of chances I felt I could have got, but the pins were absolutely brutal."

As for his electrifying final putt, MacIntyre said, ""Holing that putt is a massive boost going into tomorrow. That one shot is everything out here."

US star Scheffler, whose four victories this season include major triumphs at the PGA Championship and British Open, fired a 67 to finish on 198 but clutch putting by MacIntyre kept him from closing the gap as they battled down the back nine.