Jim Furyk, who lifted the huge prize two years ago on the eve of the last Ryder Cup, moved out in front on Friday by going to the turn in a spectacular 29 and handing in a 64.

But McIlroy, whose 68 was his 10th successive sub-70 score, would not mind Furyk winning the event as long as he maintains his position and Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Brandt Snedeker and Nick Watney do not storm to victory.

That quartet all came into the final week of the play-offs knowing the big prize would be theirs if they won the tournament, with Snedeker emerging as the most likely to do so on Saturday..

Snedeker was four under through 10 holes of his third round to move to six under and a four-way tie for second place along with compatriots Ryan Moore and Bubba Watson and England’s Justin Rose.

Furyk remained in the lead on seven under after six straight pars, while McIlroy was three under after two birdies and two bogeys on the front nine.

McIlroy made a poor start by missing the green at the first and almost fluffing his chip, but responded to the resulting bogey with a birdie from five feet on the par-three second.

Another poor chip from the apron of the seventh green cost McIlroy a shot, but again he quickly hit back courtesy of a two-putt birdie on the par-five ninth after a 367-yard drive.

Rose was playing alongside Furyk and matched his steady run of pars, while Woods was two under for 12 holes and alongside McIlroy on three under overall.