Fitzpatrick extends lead as Scheffler charges at RBC Heritage

Overnight leader Matt Fitzpatrick bounced back from a shaky start, putting and chipping in from off the greens on 14 and 15 respectively (Kevin C. Cox)

(Kevin C. Cox/GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/Getty Images via AFP)

Matt Fitzpatrick extended his lead with an erratic three-under par 68 Saturday at the US PGA Tour RBC Heritage as world number one Scottie Scheffler stormed up the leaderboard into second place.

Overnight leader Fitzpatrick bounced back from a shaky start, holing out from off the greens on 14 and 15 for birdie and eagle respectively, to finish three strokes clear on 17-under-par at Hilton Head Island in South Carolina.

Having bogeyed the first and third holes, the 2023 RBC Heritage champion clicked into gear around the turn, becoming the only player this week to drive his ball onto the ninth green, with a 338-yarder that he converted for birdie.

Fitpatrick reclaimed the solo lead with a confident 10-foot putt on the 12th.

The Englishman putted in a bobbling left-to-right effort from 26 feet off the green for another birdie on 14 -- the same hole on which he had bounced off a tree on the way to an improbable birdie a day earlier.

And he then executed a perfect chip into the hole from 30 feet on 15 to open a three-shot lead.

Fitzpatrick is seeking his fourth PGA Tour title, adding to last month's Valspar Championship and the 2022 US Open, as well as his 2023 RBC Heritage title.

Scheffler -- having begun Moving Day seven strokes off the lead -- made five birdies in his first six holes to soar into contention.

"You can't ask for much of a better start than that. Came out, nice birdie on the first, good birdie on the second. Kind of stole one on four, and two good birdies there on five and six," he said after.

From a stunning front-nine 31 that shot Scheffler briefly up to tied-first, the four-time major winner's momentum slowed slightly with a string of frustrating pars.

But he birdied the 16th and final holes for a seven-under round of 64, to finish 14-under-par for the tournament with one day to play.

"As you start kind of getting back into contention, I think that's always fun. It's never as fun being on the outside looking in," said Scheffler.