PGA Tour news: Jon Rahm hails 'shot of the year' as he closes in on Sam Ryder at Torrey Pines

An opening 73 at Torrey Pines on Wednesday left Rahm with plenty of work to do, while his second-round 67 was much better but still left him eight shots adrift.

Now, after another impressive round of six-under-par 66 on Friday, a round that included five birdies and an eagle, the Spaniard lies just two shots off the pace heading into Saturday's final round, looking very much odds on for another victory.

"I just kept giving myself pretty much the easiest putts," Rahm said. "Then on nine, put it in the fairway and was contender for best shot of the year for me already, which was the second shot into the green. I tattooed that five-wood and ended up having 10 feet for eagle."

"I stayed really patient out there and took advantage of the holes I could take advantage of and played what I would say was very smart throughout the round," added the Spaniard, who could overtake Rory McIlroy for number one in the world with a victory.

Standing in his way is American Sam Ryder, who is chasing his first PGA Tour victory in his 147th start and managed to keep his nose in front with a level-par 72 for a leading total of 12-under 204.

"I didn't feel like I had to go try and make something happen or press," Ryder said. "I didn't panic when I made a bogey on two and I kind of just adjusted to the round and kind of got a feel for where I was at with my swing and my game.

"I hit some really good shots, felt like I could have made a couple more putts, but overall all I'm very pleased and starting the day with a lead, ending the day with a lead -- pretty satisfied."

This year's Farmers Insurance Open started on a Wednesday so that it final-round broadcast on American TV channel CBS would not conflict with its NFL playoffs coverage.

When the NFL expanded to a 17-game regular season in 2022, that changed the postseason schedule as everything got pushed back a week, meaning the two conference title games now fell on the same day as the final round at Torrey Pines.