09/19/26 01:35:00
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09/19 13:33 CDT McIlroy produces big finish with eagle at No. 18 to move into
contention at BMW PGA Championship
McIlroy produces big finish with eagle at No. 18 to move into contention at BMW
PGA Championship
VIRGINIA WATER, England (AP) --- Rory McIlroy hit a 4-iron from 230 yards to
inside 2 feet and holed the eagle putt to finish off a 3-under 69 on Saturday
and move into contention to win the BMW PGA Championship for the second time.
The No. 2-ranked McIlroy's birdie- eagle finish on the back-to-back closing par
5s at Wentworth left him on 11-under 205 after the third round, just two
strokes off the lead held by Manuel Elvira and Filippo Cello on a crowded
leaderboard.
There are 15 players within three shots of the lead --- but one name stands out.
"I feel like I've given myself a real opportunity tomorrow," said McIlroy, who
won the European tour's flagship event in 2014 --- in the same summer he
captured two major titles, the British Open and the PGA Championship.
On a day when second-round leader Ryan Gerard went backward with a 75, many
others took a big step forward --- even if the top of the leaderboard doesn't
contain too many household names.
Neither Celli (69) nor Elvira (68) have won a title on the European tour, while
two of the three players tied for third place a shot back --- Johannes Veerman
(64) and Alejandro Del Rey (64) --- are ranked No. 357 and No. 236,
respectively.
The other player on 12 under is J.J. Spaun, the former U.S. Open winner who
shot 68 as he looks to prove a point after missing out on selection for next
week's Presidents Cup.
"It's a bummer to miss out on the team events, whether it's Ryder Cup or
Presidents Cup," Spaun said. "Definitely carrying a bit of a chip on my
shoulder this week."
McIlroy is in a five-man group in a tie for sixth place that also includes Adam
Scott (71) and LIV Golf star Joaquin Niemann (67).
"It's going to be an interesting day," McIlroy said, looking ahead to the final
round. "There's a lot of people around the lead. I think the conditions the
last couple of days, that's the reason it hasn't let anyone get away from the
pack just because it has played so tricky and difficult."
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