McIlroy hoping 'to make a dream come true' with Open win at St. Andrews

After the sun rises Sunday, Rory McIlroy will have the chance at accomplishing one of golf's greatest accolades: winning the Open Championship at the "Home of Golf."

"It's what dreams are made of," McIlroy said, according to ASAP Sports. "I'm going to try to make a dream come true tomorrow."

McIlroy backed up rounds of 66 and 68 with another 66 on Saturday to share the 54-hole Open lead with Norwegian golfer Viktor Hovland. The two Europeans will start Sunday's final round with a four-stroke edge over the rest of the field as they tee off at 16-under.

The Northern Irishman has made just four bogeys over 54 holes this week. He countered that with 18 birdies and one eagle, which came from the bunker of the par-4 10th on Saturday.

"I just have to do my thing," McIlroy said. "I've been doing my thing for the last three days, and it's put me in a good position."

For Hovland, it'll be the 24-year-old's best chance at capturing his first major championship. McIlroy, meanwhile, has a chance at ending a near-eight-year major drought.

The 33-year-old has four major championship titles to date: the U.S. Open in 2011, the PGA Championship in 2012, and both The Open and PGA Championship in 2014.

As the only player in the final two pairings with major wins to his name, McIlroy allowed that his experience may give him a bit of an edge in the final round. However, he acknowledged that Hovland, alongside Cameron Young and Cameron Smith at 12-under, is a fierce competitor who's within reach.

"I'm not going to take anything for granted. I don't feel like I can fall back on any sort of experience," McIlroy said.

He added: "Nothing's given to you, and I have to go out there and earn it just like I've earned everything else in my career."

McIlroy will have his shot to earn major No. 5 and TOUR win No. 22 at 9:50 a.m. ET on Sunday.