Rory McIlroy showcased a strong performance during the third round of the PGA Championship, carding a 4-under 66 to move to 3 under overall, just one stroke behind clubhouse leaders Matt Schmid and Nick Taylor, who both shot 5-under 65. After a disappointing start with a 4-over 74 in the first round, McIlroy climbed the leaderboard, demonstrating resilience and skill. He noted that he was only seven shots back after the first day, recalling his comeback at last year's Masters where he was similarly positioned. McIlroy's round featured impressive birdies, including a notable 81⁄2-foot putt on the first hole and a 121⁄2-footer on the fifth hole. The improved scoring conditions on Saturday, with reduced wind and more favorable pin placements, allowed several players to perform better. Chris Kirk almost matched the course record with a 5-under 65 but faltered on the final hole. Meanwhile, Kristoffer Reitan, who recently won the Truist Championship, also finished strong with two eagles, highlighting the competitive nature of the tournament as it heads into the final round.