Rory McIlroy faded out of contention as Alex Fitzpatrick grabbed the third-round lead at the Truist Championship in North Carolina.
McIlroy, playing his first tournament since winning a second Masters title, started the day four shots off the lead.
But after opening his third round with a birdie, his hopes of a fifth success in the event evaporated in a round which included six bogeys – four of them in a row from the turn.
He clawed one shot back at the par five 15th, but a 75 left him at one-under-par and 13 shots off the pace.
Fitzpatrick took a one-shot lead on 14-under-par over Norway’s Kristoffer Reitan after both shot 64.
The Englishman, chasing a second PGA Tour victory after securing his card with a win at the Zurich Classic alongside brother and 2022 US Open champion Matt, who is a stroke behind McIlroy after a 69.
Alex Fitzpatrick made five birdies on his front none, adding another on the 12th and two more either side of his only dropped shot on the 16th.
Already leading at a Signature Event just two starts after earning PGA TOUR membership 💪
Alex Fitzpatrick (@FitzAlex99) is settling in quickly @TruistChamp.
In partnership with @ROLEX pic.twitter.com/8NNOzF4e06
“I think having my brother around has been super helpful,” he said.
“He’s been and done everything that I want to do in the game, whether that’s Ryder Cup and win majors.
“Having him, kind of, being around and me being there for all of that, I felt like I got a really good sense of what it takes and what the atmosphere is like.”
American Cameron Young was two off the pace after a bogey at the last marred a round of 63, two ahead of Denmark’s Nicolai Hojgaard and overnight leader Sungjae Im.
England’s Tommy Fleetwood fell into a group five strokes off the pace after a round of 71.
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