2023 BMW Championship leaderboard: Scottie Scheffler, Matt Fitzpatrick tied for lead as Rory McIlroy lurks

The race to the FedEx Cup trophy is heating up as just one round remains in the penultimate event of the postseason

The final round of the 2023 BMW Championship at Olympia Fields will have the feel of a major championship with 2022 U.S. Open winner Matt Fitzpatrick and 2022 Masters champion Scottie Scheffler leading the way at 11 under. The Englishman went around the North Course in impressive fashion Saturday, signing for a 4-under 66 only to be outdone by the world No. 1.

For Fitzpatrick, it has been a strange 2023 campaign, and this renaissance could not have come at a better time. Dealing with injuries throughout the early spring, the 28-year-old began to approach 100% and capped his return to full health with a playoff victory over Jordan Spieth at the RBC Heritage.

Yet, just as it seemed he was back to his normal self, Fitzpatrick's quality was few and far between as he dropped to 40th in the FedEx Cup standings entering this week. The two-time PGA Tour winner is now projected to move to fifth should he convert this 54-hole lead, but it will be hard earned as Scheffler — one of two runners-up at the 2022 U.S. Open — will give his European counterpart everything he can handle.

Finding some form with the putter in his third round, Scheffler finally holed putts with conviction to complement yet another stellar tee-to-green performance. He looks for his first victory since the Players Championship and his third of the season for what can only be described as overdue, but he also eyes the top spot at the Tour Championship where a two-stroke lead would be awarded if he maintains his projected position atop the FedEx Cup standings. 

Champion Golfer of the Year Brian Harman sits one behind at 10 under after shaking his hangover at last week's postseason opener. Max Homa battled back admirably to join Harman in the penultimate group at 9 under, while Rory McIlroy continues to position himself to win alongside Viktor Hovland at 8 under.

The leaders

1. Matt Fitzpatrick, Scottie Scheffler (-11): Fitzpatrick's last top-40 finish came at the U.S. Open in June, but he looks to have found something in his game when he needed it the most. What makes his third round even more impressive was it happened despite poor ball striking. After ranking inside the top 10 on approach the first two days, Fitzpatrick ranked outside the top 20 off the tee and on approach. If Scheffler's putting returns to its season's baseline, and Fitzpatrick's ball striking remains amiss, this could turn into a battle of skillsets over the final 18.

Other contenders

3. Brian Harman (-10)
4. Max Homa (-9)
T4. Rory McIlroy, Viktor Hovland (-8)
T7. Sam Burns, Denny McCarthy, Xander Schauffele, Justin Rose (-7)

The big stick continues to pose a problem for McIlroy as he ranks dead last in driving accuracy through three rounds. Despite not playing from the fairway, he continues to find a way to score and had it rolling early in his third round with four birdies across his first six holes. McIlroy's short game bailed him out time and time again, and will allow him to vie for PGA Tour title No. 25 on Sunday. If McIlroy is to somehow steal this tournament, he will need to start playing from the fairway as he is giving up realistic scoring chances to his counterparts.

Burns' big Saturday

When he needed it the most, Burns posted one of his best rounds of the season and one of the best rounds of the week. Tying Homa's course record from Friday, Burns carded eight birdies against 10 pars to card an 8-under 62 and catapult his name up the leaderboard. Beginning the week at No. 30 in the FedEx Cup standings, the WGC-Match Play star now has the inside track to qualify for the Tour Championship and even contend for the BMW Championship trophy on Sunday.

"I feel like it's been a frustrating year at times," said Burns. "I've seen a lot of good. I've seen some bad. Just been kind of one of those years. But I'm grateful that I'm here. It could be a year where I didn't make the Playoffs, but I'm here and have an opportunity to go out and play well tomorrow. It is what it is."

Bubble boys

Seasons will come to an end Sunday as the field gets trimmed from 50 to 30 for next week's Tour Championship. A spot in the field at East Lake will not only give players an opportunity to track down the season-long prize and compete for astronomical paydays, but it would guarantee them an invitation into the 2024 Masters.

Name	Projected standing	Standing entering the week
Justin Rose	26	32
Jason Day	27	21
Chris Kirk	28	29
Tyrrell Hatton	29	26
Denny McCarthy	30	34
Jordan Spieth	31	27
Emiliano Grillo	32	23
Sepp Straka	33	24
Sahith Theegala	34	31
Adam Svensson	35	39

2023 BMW Championship updated odds, picks

• Scottie Scheffler: 5/4
• Matt Fitzpatrick: 16/5
• Brian Harman: 6-1
• Max Homa: 9-1
• Rory McIlroy: 9-1
• Viktor Hovland: 14-1

I love the spot for McIlroy at 9-1. He hasn't had his best stuff off the tee but is still somehow only three strokes off the lead. McIlroy understands he must drive the ball better, and considering it is typically his strength, I am willing to suggest he will have his A-game with the driver Sunday. If he does, the rest of the game is in a place where he will be able to track down Fitzpatrick and Scheffler.

Rick Gehman and Patrick McDonald break down moving day at the BMW Championship. Scottie Scheffler finds his putter, Viktor Hovland goes low and Rory McIlroy is right there heading into Sunday. Follow & listen to The First Cut on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

[Aug 19, 2023 at 5:15 pm ET · Patrick McDonald]

Final group out of whack

Chris Kirk and Max Homa are a combined 8 over and likely out of this tournament if something doesn't change fast. Homa is 3 over and only five back, but he must take advantage of the par-5 15th if he is to keep pace with Matt Fitzpatrick at 12 under and Scottie Scheffler at 11 under.

[Aug 19, 2023 at 4:51 pm ET · Patrick McDonald]

Scheffler and Fitzpatrick separate

After nearly getting to the par-5 15th in two, the world No. 1 has matched Matt FItzpatrick at 11 under. The 2022 major championship winners are now one clear of the competition as they put the finishing touches on their third rounds. 

[Aug 19, 2023 at 4:22 pm ET · Patrick McDonald]

Scheffler finding his form

That is now three birdies in a row for the world No. 1 who has reached 10 under and tied with Brian Harman after the Open winner converted a crucial par save. Scheffler is rolling the rock as good as we have seen this summer which spells trouble for the rest of the field.