It's a second birdie in as many holes for the Hojgaards and the Danes are within one shot of the lead.

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Almost a jolt of momentum at the third.

Lowry hits iron off the tee on the par three, ending up almost 50 feet from the flag.

McIlroy gives the putt a real go, though.

The Masters champion is on his knees as it just inches by. Thought he had that one!

Back on the first, Griffin misses the putt for par. Their lead is down to two, with McIlroy and Lowry two further back.

I was being kind to McIlroy there, he left Lowry with 36 feet for the birdie.

The putt comes up short but again will leave a tap in for his partner.

No damage done after the wayward drive but they'll know they have to make more of the par fives if they are to vault up the leaderboard.

It's a par-par start for Salinda and Velo, too.

Lowry lays up but it's still in the rough for McIlroy's third.

His approach finds the green but it'll be a 30-foot putt for Lowry if he's to find a birdie.

The Hojgaards do have themselves a birdie, though, to get within three of the lead.

Lowry joked after Friday's round that he enjoyed playing his first shot after McIroy's prodigious drives.

Not so here as his pal is left shouting "fore left" off the tee.

Lowry will have to dig this out of the rough on the par five.

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McIlroy with a lovely wedge shot to give Lowry a look for birdie from about eight feet.

It's not quite the perfect start, though, as the putt slides by.

Velo knocks his own putt past the hole but his partner Salinda tidies up for him.

It's as you were after the first.

Lowry with the driver on the first and he hits a nice fade down the left-side of the fairway.

They'll like that start!

The reigning champions are on the first tee...

McIlroy's final shot of the third round was a putt 90 minutes in the making.

After waiting out a rain delay on the 18th, the world number two holed it for an eagle to bring him and Lowry to 22 under par.

"The last thing on my mind during the delay was the putt, and then once I got back out there, I sort of concentrated on it and made sure I did what I needed to do and it was just a bonus for it to go in," said McIlroy.

"As long as we keep having fun out there, that'll be the best way for us to get the best out of ourselves."

Just a reminder that, unlike yesterday, it will be an alternate-shot round today.

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Despite the team element at TPC Louisiana this week, a win here would represent the 30th PGA Tour title of Rory McIlroy's career and an eighth that he has won more than once.

It would be the first time since retaining the CJ Cup in 2022 that he has successfully defended a title, although he has won on consecutive starts as recently as last year when he followed victory here with another win at the Wells Fargo Championship.

Not the biggest career achievements the Masters champion has secured this month, of course, but some milestones on offer nonetheless.

Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry may be five shots off the lead heading into the final round of the Zurich Classic but the reigning champions faced a similar deficit heading into the back nine a year ago.

Then, the night still ended with McIlroy belting out some Journey in the tournament's marquee...

Will we see similar celebrations this evening? Stick with us to find out and we'll keep you up to date with how the old pals get on in New Orleans.

McIlroy and Lowry are out at 18:33 BST, 22 minutes before the leaders Andrew Novak and Ben Griffin.

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