BMW PGA Championship: Eagle leaves Rory McIlroy two off the lead at Wentworth

by | Sep 19, 2026 | Sports

BMW PGA Championship: Eagle leaves Rory McIlroy two off the lead at Wentworth

Manuel Elvira of Spain and Filippo Celli of Italy share the lead at the BMW PGA Championship following the third round, both finishing at 13 under par after recording birdies on the 18th hole at Wentworth.

Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland, ranked world number two, moved within striking distance of the leaders by carding an eagle on the par-five 18th hole. His third round score of three under 69 left him at 11 under par, two shots behind the co-leaders. Alejandro Del Rey, JJ Spaun, and Johannes Veerman sit one shot back at 12 under, setting up a competitive final round.

The leaderboard shows significant depth in the competition, with approximately 20 players positioned within four strokes of the lead. This congestion at the top reflects challenging course conditions that have persisted over recent days. McIlroy attributed the compressed leaderboard to the difficult playing conditions, noting that unpredictable weather has made the course play tricky and prevented any single competitor from building a substantial advantage.

McIlroy is pursuing his second Wentworth title and aiming to secure a record-equalling eighth Race to Dubai title. The Northern Irish golfer indicated a strategic approach for the final round, suggesting he may adopt a more aggressive style on the back nine if needed while attempting to remain focused on his own game rather than monitoring competitor scores on the front nine.

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