Rory McIlroy is on the verge of returning to world 

Rory McIlroy is ready to regain the world number one after more than two years. The Northern Irishman goes into Sunday's final round of the CJ Cup

a one-shot lead and looks set to defend his PGA Tour title and climb back to the top which many believe is his rightful position.

[{"selector":"#anim-a09a70fa-a8af-4528-b6b2-74ee7f29a520","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1ba4068c-7f1a-4ed2-9684-09bc947e3328","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.00001%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

At 13 under, the Northern Irishman is in the clear. McIlroy started the penultimate day in South Carolina three off the lead held by fellow Ryder Cup player Jon Rahm.

[{"selector":"#anim-41830bc2-8659-4bbf-be1f-94d0c1246a71","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-751cac0e-9a45-4093-a27f-4cfcb6d7ae8e","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.18987%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

but continued his typically impressive ball-striking display to shoot a 4-under 67. That would clearly mean so much for the 33. -years old.

[{"selector":"#anim-f7f90637-bdb9-4b57-ac2e-4ce67db025ef","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7330b470-3bfe-4e85-8657-28ae43c5e994","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(114.37500%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

"To be ranked No. 1 in the world at anything you do is an incredible accolade and something to be proud of," said McIlroy, who slipped to 16th in the rankings in August 2021.

[{"selector":"#anim-3b02b33e-c554-4656-8dc2-70009fc0b647","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d642c6f0-b6da-4028-adca-273f87a8ec03","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.00001%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

A win in South Carolina - which would be his third of the year - would see McIlroy leapfrog American Scott Scheffler, but even if he finishes second, he will leapfrog him.

[{"selector":"#anim-1530d44b-932e-45a1-a91e-909265f31506","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ba2c1f3e-be1e-4bab-bf34-e301e85697cc","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(114.37500%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

For McIlroy to unseat Scheffler, he would have to win at Congaree Golf Club and for Scheffler to finish worse than a solo tie for second,

[{"selector":"#anim-6cfa2b99-d88d-4622-aabd-e5a53a4119e8","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c331669b-d03b-4940-81b8-bcacb0d415ab","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(113.75000%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

or for McIlroy to finish second and the Masters champion to fall outside the top 34 in the 15-player world tournament. top 20. After 54 holes, Scheffler is tied for 47th at even par after a two-over 74.

[{"selector":"#anim-a8f6c801-74fc-4f1a-b181-8642917f1a3b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-485e1d88-b48f-4243-9b2e-2c8fe139834b","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(114.37500%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]