A decade after winning his maiden major title in the US Open, Rory McIlroy stormed into contention for another victory at Torrey Pines.
McIlroy cruised to an eight-shot victory at Congressional in 2011, just two months after blowing a four-stroke lead in the Masters following a final round of 80 at Augusta National.
The Northern Irishman went on to win the US PGA Championship in 2012 and the Open and US PGA in 2014, but has not won a major since and had been a combined 35 over par in the first round of golf's biggest events before an opening 70 in San Diego.
"I don't think the course is any different (from the first two days). I think we've seen today some more accessible pin positions, a couple of tees have been moved up.
"I drove it brilliantly the first two days and didn't really capitalise on how I struck it. I didn't have the speed down with the putter and today was the first day where I felt like I had touch on these greens."
England's Richard Bland held a share of the halfway lead but struggled to a 77 on Saturday to fall six shots off the pace.
