McIlroy, the four-time major champion from Northern Ireland, and Hovland, the rising star from Norway, carded matching rounds of 6-under 66 to finish Saturday at 16-under 200. Hovland turned in the only bogey-free round of the day, while McIlroy thrilled his supporters in the United Kingdom by holing out for eagle from a pot bunker on No 10.
Both men birdied No 18 to polish off their rounds and set up a Sunday showdown at the 150th playing of The Open.
"That was pretty cool. Probably not going to forget that one too quickly," Hovland said. "No, I played great, but it was also cool to trade some holes with Rory as well."
Australia's Cameron Smith led after two rounds but couldn't keep his putter hot Saturday. He shot a 1-over 73 and joined playing partner Cameron Young (71) in a tie for third at 12 under.
World No 1 Scottie Scheffler (69) and South Korea's Si Woo Kim (67) were tied for fifth at 11 under. Dustin Johnson settled for a 71 for seventh place at 10 under.
McIlroy has not won a major since 2014. After top-10 finishes at the Masters, PGA Championship and US Open earlier this year, the 33-year-old once again finds himself in position to end his drought.
"The support that I've gotten this week has been absolutely incredible," McIlroy said. "I appreciate it and I feel it out there. But at the same time I'm trying my hardest just to stay in my own little world because that's the best way for me to get the best out of myself."
Hovland (24) starred at Oklahoma State and has five wins between the PGA Tour and DP World Tour since turning pro in 2019. His talent has not translated to the major stage before this week; he has yet to secure a top-10 finish at a major.
Norway has never had a major championship winner.
"Growing up in Norway, (I) always watched The Open Championship for way longer than I ever did, for example, the Masters," Hovland said. "Yeah, to win a major that's closest to home, that would be really cool."
Smith three-putted for bogey on the first hole and Hovland ran in four straight birdies at Nos 3-6 to overtake him. Hovland tied Smith at the fourth hole when he made a tough 42-foot birdie putt, sweeping right to left over a mound. A 19-footer at No 6 gave the Norwegian a two-shot edge.
McIlroy birdied Nos 5, 6 and 9 to draw within one shot of Hovland as the pair made the turn. McIlroy drove into a pot bunker at the short par-4 10th, but he lofted his second shot on line with the pin and it rolled in for eagle.
"That hole was sort of perched up on a little crown there, and I was just trying to get it somewhat close," McIlroy said. "Anything inside 10 feet I felt was going to be a really good shot. It just came out perfectly.
"You need a little bit of luck every now and again, especially in these big tournaments. And that was a nice bonus."
The shot vaulted McIlroy past Hovland to 15 under, but moments later Hovland converted a birdie to tie the lead. McIlroy's two-putt birdie at the par-5 14th restored his advantage.
At the difficult No 17, the "Road Hole," both players' drives missed the fairway and their approaches sailed over the green. McIlroy settled for bogey, while Hovland putted his third shot from off a walking path to set up a 4-foot par save to pull even.
Smith and Young each committed a costly double bogey on the back nine, damaging their already fading chances. Smith's came at No 13, where he had to stand in a bunker to address his second shot out of the rough. Instead of laying up into the fairway, his knee-high swing only sent the ball 65 yards ahead.
Young's double bogey went down as a four-putt at No 16. His approach landed past the green, and his attempt to putt it from there zipped past the hole and fell down the front slope of the green, setting up the calamitous score.
Scheffler made five birdies to counter two bogeys. The Masters champion could become the third player in history to win at Augusta National and St Andrews in the same year, joining Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods.
Englishmen Tommy Fleetwood (66) and Matt Fitzpatrick (69) joined Australia's Adam Scott (70) in a tie for eighth at 9 under. Jordan Spieth shot a 68 to get to 8 under and a tie for 11th with Patrick Cantlay (71).
Shane Lowry of Ireland holed out for consecutive eagles at the par-4 ninth and 10th holes for an improbable four-shot leap up the leaderboard. The 2019 Open champ cooled off down the stretch, shot a 69 and is part of a group at 7 under. Kevin Kisner also stands at 7 under after he shot a 65 for the low round of the day.
- Field Level Media
