McIlroy, who gained the final of his 4 majors in 2014, completed in a six-way tie for fourth place in Tokyo three years in the past and joked this week that he had by no means tried so arduous to complete third in his profession.
This time round, whereas Schauffele, Rahm and Britain’s Tommy Fleetwood will begin the ultimate spherical within the medal positions, McIlroy is joined within the chasing pack by the likes of world primary Scottie Scheffler and former Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama.
“I am in a very good place within the leaderboard,” added McIlroy.
“I used to be actually near getting a medal final time in Tokyo, I am in rivalry to attempt to get a medal this time round, and I am excited for that chance.”
McIlroy, in his first motion since lacking the reduce on the Open final month, is 10 underneath going into the ultimate spherical after a 66 on Saturday that featured 5 birdies and no bogeys.
“I can not complain an excessive amount of, to play a bogey-free spherical at this time with that actually being the gameplan,” mentioned the world quantity three.
“I went out at this time to actually attempt to restrict the errors. I performed the entrance 9 extremely nicely once more, I’ve performed that 9 in three-under-par every day.
“I performed the again 9 slightly higher at this time which was good to see.”
