Ryder Cup captain Tom Watson would have wished to have Billy Horschel in his American team after seeing him win a second straight tournament against a world-class field but the deadline to make selections has already been reached.

Jason Day fired a three-under par 68 that included seven birdies, two bogeys and a double bogey while Jim Furyk shot a bogey-free 69 to leave them level for the lead on nine-under 204 after 54 holes in the first event of the US PGA's season-ending playoffs.

Rory McIlroy, seeking his fourth major title and second in a row after capturing the British Open three weeks ago, fired a four-under-par 67 to seize a one-shot lead over Jason Day and Jim Furyk in the year's final major, standing on nine-under 133 after 36 holes.

Johnson, a 37-year-old American, fired a final-round 65 to finish 72 holes on 16-under par 268, two strokes ahead of countryman Nick Watney, who closed with a 64, with Furyk another shot adrift after a final-round 71.

Jim Furyk became just the sixth player in US PGA Tour history to fire a 12-under 59 and joined Brandt Snedeker atop the leaderboard

Furyk, whose lone major title came at the 2003 US Open, made a 14-foot birdie putt at the 17th hole and sank a 10-foot par putt from the greenside fringe at the 18th to finish a two-under par 68 and stand on nine-under par 201 after 54 holes at Oak Hill Country Club.

On an Oak Hill layout softened by pre-dawn showers and a 70-minute afternoon rain delay, Scott and Furyk flirted with the course record of 64 shared by Ben Hogan and Curtis Strange before finishing on five-under par 65.

The 37-year-old world number one will seek his 15th major crown, and first such title since the 2008 US Open, when the PGA Championship opens Thursday at Oak Hill.

Jim Furyk carded a three-under 69 to move into a tie for second place, and two-time major winner Rory McIlroy remained in the hunt by posting a one-under 71 to get into a tie for fourth.

US Ryder Cup captain Davis Love named Steve Stricker, Jim Furyk, Dustin Johnson and Brandt Snedeker as his captain's wildcard picks for the American Ryder Cup team on Tuesday.