Rahm grabs lead with McIlroy close

LOS ANGELES, California: Third-ranked Jon Rahm seized the lead of the Farmers Insurance Open on Saturday while Rory McIlroy chased the world number one spot and Tiger Woods charged into contention for a record-setting 83rd career US PGA title.

Rahm made five birdies and an eagle to shoot a bogey-free seven-under par 65 and stand on 12-under 204 after 54 holes at Torrey Pines with American Ryan Palmer one shot back after a 71.

Woods, who has eight career triumphs at Torrey Pines, fired a 69 to stand five behind Rahm entering the final round at the seaside San Diego layout. McIlroy fired a 67 to join a third-place pack on 207 with South Korean Kang Sung and Americans Harry Higgs and Cameron Champ.

“I hit the ball well off the tee. I gave myself plenty of chances,” said McIlroy. “If you can pack your patience around this place, just hang around, you should be OK. “No one is going to go out here and shoot the lights out. If you keep putting it on the green and give yourself chances, you’re going to do well out here.”

That’s what 15-major winner Woods hopes as the 44-year-old reigning Masters champion tries to move past the all-time record 82 US PGA wins he shares with Sam Snead. Woods sank a 13-foot birdie putt on the same first hole where Friday he four-putted to a double bogey, then curled in a seven-foot birdie putt on the par-3 third and chipped in from 17 feet to rescue par at the fourth.

Woods birdied the par-5 sixth and ninth to pull within two of the lead. He made bogey at the par-3 11th then grinded out seven concluding pars, the most crucial on a 15-foot putt — his longest putt of the day — at the par-5 18th.