CHICAGO (AFP) — Top-ranked Scottie Scheffler and 2022 US Open champion Matthew Fitzpatrick each reeled off three consecutive back-nine birdies to share the lead after Saturday's third round of the PGA Tour's BMW Championship.

American star Scheffler made seven birdies against a lone bogey to shoot a six-under par 64 while England's Fitzpatrick had five birdies before a controversial closing bogey left him on 66 at Olympia Fields in suburban Chicago.

That left them on 11-under 199 after 54 holes in the penultimate FedEx Cup playoff event, where the top 30 in season points advance to next week's Tour Championship in Atlanta.

"I played what felt like a great round," Scheffler said. "The winds were shifting around a bunch out there… but I did a good job of when I got into trouble, got out, and my short game was really nice."

American Brian Harman, last month's British Open winner, was third on 200 after a 67 with countryman Max Homa, who set the course record Friday with a PGA career-low 62, fourth on 201 after a 71.