Rory McIlroy superbly kept alive a winning 30^th birthday celebration and a third tournament victory toast muscling his way to within two shots of the lead heading to the final round of the Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow.

McIlroy grabbed four birdies, including back-to-back birdies at 14 and 15, to move to nine-under par and now within overtaking reach of the leading American trio of Jason Dufner, Joel Dahmen and Max Homa who share the lead on 11-under par.

Homa and Dahmen posted one-under-par 70s, while Dufner shot 71 but on a day interrupted by suspensions due to storms in suburban Charlotte, North Carolina.

Another American in Pat Perez produced 66 to move into fourth place at 10-under ar and with McIlroy in fifth.

“I’ve played some great golf on this back nine, and hopefully I can do it again,” McIlroy said.

🎂 @McIlroyRory celebrates his 30th birthday
💪 @TheSergioGarcia makes a charge
🏆 @MaxHoma23 looks for his first win

Catch what you missed on Saturday @WellsFargoGolf. pic.twitter.com/SDsV850md4

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) May 5, 2019

“I’m right there and I’m three closer to the lead than I was starting off today, so that’s a good thing. Just sort of hung around all day.

“I stayed really patient. I could have — coming back after that second delay, three-putting 12, I was a little bit angry at myself, sort of saying to myself on the 13th tee, “Why didn’t I hit balls instead of just going to the putting green?”

“Yeah, I birdied 14 and 15 after that, played the last three holes well, which you need to do. Didn’t lose any shots there. As you said, right there going into tomorrow, so I’m excited for that.”

McIlroy played on his 30th birthday, receiving a cake in the clubhouse and a “Happy Birthday” song from spectators at the first tee, the first of many that would serenade him throughout the round.

“It’s been awesome. I’m really grateful,” he said.

“I really, I felt the love out there. Celebrate another decade of my life and I get to do it on one of my favourite golf courses in the world, it’s pretty cool”.

McIlroy won his first PGA title at Quail Hollow in 2010, recalling it came day on May 2^nd that year and two days before his 21st birthday.

But being underage and not being allowed to be served alcohol, he celebrated victory with apple juice instead of the traditional champers

“At least I can have champagne in my flute,” McIlroy said of his 30th birthday plans.

McIlroy’s 2018 victorious Ryder Cup team-mates Justin Rose (68) is just a shot back at eight-under with Paul Casey (660 at seven under and tied with West Waterford’s Seamus Power, who posted a 68.

Power already guaranteed himself a third straight four-rounder this season in making the cut and now the affable Irishman is looking for a third straight PGA Tour top-10.

He capped his round with birdies at the third, 11^th and 15^th holes but dropped a shot at the 17^th.