Scheffler: ‘I can think of a few things that were said to me in Ireland that were very far over the line’

Robert MacIntyre overcame heckling from fans and rolled in a 41-footer for a birdie at the last to take a four-shot lead into the final day of the BMW Championship in Maryland.

The Scot was playing alongside world number one Scottie Scheffler, who recalled fans saying things that were “very far over the line” in the final round of The Open at Royal Portrush.

He led by five shots at halfway, and while Scheffler closed to within three heading down the stretch en route to a 67, he combined great scrambling with that closing birdie to shoot 68 and lead by four with a round to go.

MacIntyre admitted he was ready for what he may experience in next month’s Ryder Cup and even shushed a fan on the 14th, where he made a seven and a half footer for par after Scheffler had applied pressure with a birdie.

"We're in America, playing against their sweetheart Scottie, who I get on well with; he's a great guy," MacIntyre said.

"I expected it today, and I expect it again tomorrow. You give me crap, I'll give you crap back. I'm not scared of that."

He added, "I don't know if anyone was thrown out, but there were plenty of people to talk to. He [a fan] was just jeering. He was just shouting I missed it, he's pushed it. Pushed it right in the middle of the hole, I guess."

Sweden's Ludvig Aberg is six shots adrift of MacIntyre on 10 under after a two-under 68, while Sam Burns and Harry Hall both shot 67 to trail by eight.

Scheffler was pleased to remain patient and get closer to MacIntyre.

“He's playing some great golf, and it's up to me to go out there and chase him down,” he said.

As for the heckling, Scheffler said, “I didn't see any of that. I played with Bob when we were in Scotland. I heard some fairly choice words when I was leading the tournament in Ireland.

“I think it's part of it. People have a tendency to say things that are dumb. I can think of a few things that were said to me in the final round in Ireland that were very far over the line.

“If you're a fan, it's only going to fire the guy up more, and I think just do your best to behave out there. It can be a little bit silly sometimes.”

Rory McIlroy double bogeyed the first and shot a one-over-par 71 that left him tied for 14th on three under, while Shane Lowry finished double bogey, bogey and shot 75 to share 34th on four over.

Meanwhile, Rasmus Højgaard will take a one-stroke lead into the final round of the Danish Golf Championship as he bids to win his national title for the second time in three years.

The 24-year-old, the first Danish player to win this event in 2023, carded a one-under-par round of 70 at Furesø Golf Klub to stay one stroke clear of Englishman Marco Penge on 13 under.

Conor Purcell was back on two-over 215 after a 76.

In Finland, Andoni Etchenique birdied his closing three holes to take a one-shot lead into the final round of the Vierumäki Finnish Challenge supported by Finnish Golf Union.

The Frenchman posted a six under 66 to lead by one stroke on 14-under from American Nick Carlson and Scotland’s David Law at Vierumäki Resort.

Max Kennedy and Paul McBride were tied on six under after 71s.

On the LPGA Tour, Japan’s Akie Iwai eagled the fifth hole and birdied the other three par 5s at Columbia Edgewater, shooting an 8-under 64 on Saturday to take a two-stroke lead in The Standard Portland Classic.

Iwai is trying to join twin sister Chisato as an LPGA Tour winner this year after second-place finishes in Thailand in February and Los Angeles in April.

Grace Kim of Australia was second after a 67, holing out from 156 yard for eagle from the left rough on the par-4 17th.