Hovland holds one-shot lead after third round at Tour Championship in Atlanta
Viktor Hovland leads the PGA Tour's $40m Tour Championship in Atlanta after round three on 29 August 2026, holding a one-shot advantage at 15 under following a five-under-par 65. Ryan Gerard is second on 14 under after a 66, with the final round set for Sunday.
The season-ending event also determines the FedEx Cup champion; Hovland won the FedEx Cup in 2023. The 29-man field is one fewer than planned after JJ Spaun pulled out injured during round one.
Hovland began the third round tied for the lead on 10 under with Gerard and closed with birdies on the 17th and 18th to card a 65 and move to 15 under. His late birdies gave him the single-stroke advantage heading into the final round.
Gerard, who had shared the overnight lead, finished with a birdie at the 18th to post a 66 and sit on 14 under. His closing birdie left him one behind Hovland.
World number one Scottie Scheffler produced a bogey-free 66 to finish on 12 under; Adam Scott also recorded a 66 to join him on 12 under, while Ludvig Aberg posted a 65 to reach the same total. Scheffler is the 2024 champion.
Rory McIlroy, aged 37 and a three-time FedEx Cup winner in 2016, 2019 and 2022, shot a 63 with nine birdies to climb to 10 under, including three consecutive birdies on holes 15, 16 and 17. "I just left myself in better spots on the greens," said McIlroy. "I gave myself easier putts, putts that didn't break two ways. When I got it rolling there on the back nine, every putt was like a cup right or a cup left." Players Championship winner Cameron Young is also on 10 under.
England's Justin Rose and Matt Fitzpatrick sit on eight under. Defending champion Tommy Fleetwood and Alex Fitzpatrick signed for 67s to finish one shot further back at seven under, while Robert MacIntyre, who was first out and playing on his own in the 29-man field, shot 63 to improve to joint 25th on four under.
The final round will be played at East Lake, Atlanta on Sunday, 31 August, with live text coverage scheduled for 18:00 BST.
