Rory McIlroy takes the lead at Honda Classic Reporting from Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. - For the second consecutive Sunday, Rory McIlroy stands one round from ascending to No.1 in the world rankings. Only this time, he'll have to beat more than one rival. "Yeah, but I wasn't standing two-up on the first tee in the final," he quickly countered. The way McIlroy has been playing of late, those two shots could be tough for anyone to overcome. The U.S. Open champion birdied two of his final four holes Saturday for a four-under-par 66 that pushed him ahead of fellow 22-year-old Harris English and journeyman Tom Gillis. PGA champion Keegan Bradley is among three players another two shots back, trying to delay a coronation that seems just a matter of time even to those chasing after McIlroy. "Rory is awesome," said English, the PGA Tour rookie who is 21/2 months younger than McIlroy and making his sixth PGA Tour start. I think he's the best player in the world right now, hands down, and I'm looking forward to [the round]. Tiger Woods found himself nine shots off the pace after a 69 in which he didn't make a birdie over his final 11 holes. "I was close to putting a low one up there," he said. I felt like it could be had. With storms in the Sunday forecast, it will be an early start. Final-round play was set to begin at 8:30 a.m. EST, with competitors grouped in threesomes and sent off both the first and 10th tees. "It could be a good thing to just get out there and get at it," said McIlroy, who has finished outside the top five just once in 11 starts worldwide since last year's PGA Championship. McIlroy could have claimed the No. 1 ranking by winning the WGC Match Play last week in Arizona. But after knocking off rival Lee Westwood in a taut semifinal, he didn't have enough in the tank to keep pace with Hunter Mahan. "I need to focus on just trying to win this golf tournament," McIlroy said. Yeah, it might be a little bit difficult. It might creep in every now and again - but if you can keep it out for the majority of the time, I think it's the best thing to do. McIlroy completed three rounds at 11-under 199, matching the best 54-hole total since the Honda took up residence at PGA National five years ago. English matched his 66 to share honors for the best round of the day. Rounding out the trio is Gillis, who held up with a 69 after his first experience of holding a PGA Tour lead overnight. At 43, he's one year younger than his playing partners' combined ages. "I think it's going to be fun - two 22-year-olds and a 43-year-old," Gillis said. Hopefully they don't walk too fast and I'll be able to catch up to them. Gillis stayed in front most of the afternoon, going as deep as 10 under with birdies at Nos. 4 and 10. But he couldn't save par from a back bunker at the par-three 15th. That ended a bogey-free run of 44 holes and gave McIlroy the lead to himself. One group earlier, McIlroy had entered the Bear Trap by sticking his tee shot at No. 15 within five feet of the flagstick for birdie. He added another at the par-five finishing hole. Bradley (68), Brian Harman (69) and Justin Rose (71) still were within reach of the lead, lurking four shots back at seven under.