US PGA Championship golf: 'Very interesting' – Why Rory McIlroy is predicting tough 3rd round, Tiger Woods, tee times

Updated 21/05/2022 at 14:22 GMT

Rory McIlroy will spearhead British hopes at the 104th US PGA Championship in Tulsa. The Northern Irishman is only five strokes behind 36-hole leader Will Zalatoris as he bids to emulate his PGA victories in 2012 and 2014. Tiger Woods is out earlier in the third round after making the cut with some vintage form on Friday. For the latest news and sharpest analysis on golf, visit GolfDigest.com

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Rory McIlroy is in contention to claim a third US PGA Championship ahead of Saturday's 3rd round at Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa.

The four-time major winner led the field after the first round courtesy of a five-under 65, but a 71 on Friday saw him drop back to a share of fifth place before the weekend's play.

2021 PGA Tour rookie of the year Will Zalatoris pieced together a glorious 65 around the tough Oklahoma circuit to catapult himself to nine under and the outright lead at the halfway stage.

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Northern Irishman McIlroy plays alongside Abraham Ancer of Mexico in the third group from last on Saturday at 7.30pm (BST) with Zalatoris joining fellow hopeful Mito Pereira in the final group of the day at 7.50pm (BST).

"There's a long way to go, a lot of golf left. We're going to see a completely different golf course the next two days because of the wind direction," said McIlroy.

"It's going to play completely differently. Probably none of the – maybe a couple of guys that came up earlier or Viktor (Hovland on level par) that's been here a while might have seen the golf course in a northerly wind, but for the most part everyone is going to have to adapt.

It's just going to play much differently tomorrow, and that makes it very interesting.

Bubba Watson equalled the lowest round in PGA Championship history – set by Raymond Floyd in 1982 and matched by Tiger Woods in 2007 – with a sparkling 63 that saw him sweep through the field to finish his day on minus five.

The double US Masters winner joins 2017 PGA champion Justin Thomas (-6) in the penultimate group. They start out at 7.40pm (BST).

Woods enjoyed a 69 on Friday to make the cut on three over and will hope to emulate Watson's antics early on Saturday when he heads out alongside Shaun Norris at 2.58pm (BST).

Jordan Spieth finds himself on plus one at the season's second major and will also need to go low to keep alive his hopes of a career grand slam. He joins Denny McCarthy for the 3rd round at 4.55pm (BST).

England's Matt Fitzpatrick is tied for eighth place on three under and is out with Davis Riley at 7.20pm (BST).