Scottie Scheffler was labelled as "inevitable" by Rory McIlroy, who has not given up hope of catching the world number one at The Open.
Scheffler is on the brink of winning the Claret Jug for the first time, as he takes a four-stroke lead into Sunday's final round at Royal Portrush.
While a steady 67 on Saturday put Scheffler clear of the chasing pack, Northern Irishman McIlroy got his home crowd going with a stunning surge.
McIlroy's round included a long-distance eagle putt on the 12th, a hole after he had remarkably hit a ball underneath his own out of the rough.
The five-time major winner sits six shots back from Scheffler on eight under.
"Scheffler is inevitable," McIlroy told Sky Sports.
"Even when he doesn't have his best stuff, he's become a complete player. He's so good around the greens, he's improved so much with his putter.
"It's going to be tough to catch him tomorrow if he keeps playing the way he does. But if I can get off to a similar start to what I did today, get the crowd going, hopefully he feels that a couple of groups behind me, and you never know.
"I just need to go out and play another really good round of golf tomorrow and see what happens."
In his press conference, McIlroy added: "[Scottie] is playing like Scottie. I don't think it's a surprise.
"Everyone's seen the way he's played or plays over the last two or three years. He's just so solid. He doesn't make mistakes."
The wave of noise that followed McIlroy around the course was a sight to behold, and the 36-year-old had special thanks for the Portrush crowd.
"Yeah, it was incredible," said McIlroy. "It was so much fun. I got off to the perfect start, three-under through four holes. Felt like at the end of the front nine there, at least through 11, the par on seven felt like a bogey, and then the bogey on 11.
"Then to play those last seven holes at three under, I thought was a good effort. Yeah, I played well. I rode my luck at times, but yeah, it was an incredible atmosphere out there. I feel like I've at least given myself half a chance tomorrow."
