Jacob Bridgeman has come out firing on Moving Day at Riviera and never let up until he had the low score of the day at seven-under (64) and a six-shot Genesis Invitational lead over Rory McIlroy.
Bridgeman goes after his first PGA Tour title on Sunday and, considering the gorgeous weather on tap, will have a chance to break the longest-standing 72-hole record on the PGA Tour.
Bridgeman was at 19-under (194), while Lanny Wadkins won at 20-under (264) in 1985.
"To be doing this on this stage at Riviera is a dream," Bridgeman said after round three of the $US20 million ($A28.25 million) Signature event.
"It was fun and easy; kind of the best that the golf world ever gets. My swing felt nice and it was fun out there. Everyone was cheering, so yeah, it was a good day."
The 26-year-old American sure didn't play as though he had not won on the PGA Tour. He opened with two birdies in three holes, and then hit 7-wood to 30 inches on the 262-yard fourth. However, his best was still ahead of him.
Bridgeman had a two-shot lead going to the back nine when he went birdie-eagle-birdie, hitting his 7-wood inside a foot to set up eagle on the par-5 11th and taking aim at a right pin on the difficult 12th for a 12-foot birdie putt to stretch his lead to six shots.
From there, it was a matter of who would join him in the final pairing.
McIlroy was cautious on the greens and closed out his round of 69 with seven straight pars.
"I hung in there," McIlroy said.
"I wish I was a couple closer to the lead ... Hopefully, put a little pressure on Jacob tomorrow. I've given myself a chance, and that's all I can ask for."
McIlroy is among nine players on the PGA Tour who have won when the 54-hole lead was six shots. He rallied to beat Scottie Scheffler in the Tour Championship in 2023 to win the FedEx Cup.
South African Aldrich Potgieter (65) is seven strokes behind, Aaron Rai (66) eight and Xander Schauffele (70) nine.
England's Marco Penge, who shared the 36-hole lead with Bridgeman, shot 74 to fall 10 behind.
Two-time champion Adam Scott (72), playing his milestone 1500th PGA Tour round, was the best-placed Australian at eight under.
Compatriot Min Woo Lee (74) is five under, along with world No.1 Scheffler, who made the cut on the number and finished about the time the last group teed off. He shot a 66, his lowest round at Riviera, and was 14 shots behind.
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