American Justin Thomas will take a one-shot lead into the final round of the WGC-Mexico Championship after a hole-in-one helped him during his third round on Saturday.

Thomas, 3.40 to win the event, shot a second successive round of 66 in Mexico City to move one shot clear of countryman Dustin Johnson.

He aced his tee-shot at the par-three 13th and that gave him plenty of momentum as he also found birdies at the 15th and 16th.

Thomas fired 31 on the back nine to push him onto 12-under par but world number one Johnson will be confident of moving back in front on Sunday.

Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy had to settle for a round of 70 to fall back from the halfway lead into a share of third with Phil Mickelson.

The pair are just one shot in front of Englishman Lee Westwood and Spain’s Jon Rahm while Tommy Fleetwood, Tyrrell Hatton and Thomas Pieters are all on eight-under in a tie for seventh.

Thomas has won four titles on the PGA Tour and he believes his previous experiences will stand him in good stead.

He told the PGA Tour: “I have more on my resume. I have more experiences to build on or to kind of have in the memory bank because I’m out there playing, but it’s a little different.

“I was four back in Malaysia and I think three shots [ahead] at Kapalua and Sony, and this is one, so it’s different.

But I’m excited, I definitely would have taken it at the start of the week.”