Rory McIlroy has kept his hopes of winning a second BMW PGA Championship alive after producing a dramatic finish to the third round at Wentworth on Saturday.
The Northern Irishman carded a three-under-par 69 to move to 11 under for the tournament, leaving him just two shots behind joint leaders Filippo Celli and Manuel Elvira ahead of Sunday’s final round.
McIlroy endured a difficult start in testing conditions and was one over par after 11 holes. However, he recovered with a birdie on the 17th before delivering the biggest moment of his round at the final hole.
The four-time major champion struck a four-iron from around 230 yards to within two feet of the hole before converting the eagle putt. The spectacular finish lifted him back into contention and triggered a major response from the Wentworth crowd.
Celli and Elvira both finished their third rounds at 13 under par after making birdies at the 18th to establish a narrow lead.
Alejandro Del Rey, Johannes Veerman and JJ Spaun sit one shot behind the leaders on 12 under, while McIlroy is part of a group tied for sixth alongside players including Adam Scott and Joaquin Niemann.
The tightly packed leaderboard means McIlroy will have several players between him and the lead when the final round begins.
McIlroy has a strong connection with Wentworth, having won the BMW PGA Championship there in 2014. He has also spoken about his long association with the venue, recalling that he first visited as a 10-year-old with his parents.
The 2026 tournament also offers McIlroy an opportunity to add another major achievement to a season that has already been shaped by his status as reigning Masters champion.
McIlroy said the difficult conditions demanded patience, particularly during the opening nine holes, but felt his persistence was rewarded by his late birdie and eagle.
A victory on Sunday would give him a second BMW PGA Championship title, 12 years after his first triumph at Wentworth.
With 18 holes remaining and several players separated by only a few shots, the tournament remains wide open going into the final round.
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