McIlroy … five birdies in eight holes

RORY MCILROY and Vijay Singh lead a weather-interrupted 2012 US PGA Championship with Adam Scott just a shot behind going into the final day.

When storms stopped third round play at the Kiawah Island Golf Resort in South Carolina the former Major champions were on 6-under with the Northern Irishman completing nine holes and the Fijian seven holes.

The very much wannabe Major winner Scott was alone in third on 5-under through nine holes.

Scott is among the 26 golfers who will be starting early Sunday (local US time) to finish their third rounds before teeing it up again for their final 18 holes.

“It will be a big day of golf as there are lots of holes still to be played,” said Scott, who is scheduled to begin his final day 27 hole campaign at 7.45am local time (9.45pm Sunday AEST).

“I need 100 per cent commitment on every shot tomorrow and I will be in with a chance.”

McIlroy had a brilliant start with five birdies in his first nine holes on the wind swept Ocean course.

“Just great position going into tomorrow, and that’s all I can really ask for, so happy with where I am,” McIlroy said.

The 49-year-old Singh, who hasn’t been in contention at a major in six years, also had a great start. He opened with a 15-foot birdie putt and made a strong recovery from trouble on the par-5 seventh by making a 25-foot putt to join McIlroy atop the leaderboard.

His playing partner and joint second round leader Tiger Woods wasn’t having such an easy day of it with his putter just one of his clubs out of kilter.

Woods was 3-over through seven holes and slipped to be 1-under for the tournament, tied with the next best Aussie Aaron Baddeley, who was even through nine holes

“I got off to a rough start today and couldn’t get anything going,” Woods said through a spokesman. “I’ll come back tomorrow morning and see what happens. There are a lot of holes left to play.”

Geoff Ogilvy was even par after finishing with a two-under 70 before the rain with Marc Leishman (+1), Greg Chalmers (+2), John Senden (+3) and Marcus Fraser (+11).

Final Round live coverage of the PGA Championship on Fox Sports is scheduled for 4.30am – 9.15am Monday.

There is also third round coverage scheduled for 12.30am – 4.30 Monday but we’re not sure if that’s a repeat or live coverage of the interrupted rounds.