Golf

Rory McIlroy heads chasing pack as Matteo Manassero leads by three at Wentworth

Italian golfer would complete remarkable career turnaround with victory on Sunday afternoon

Rory McIlroy prepares to play a shot from behind the trees on the 12th hole during the third round of the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth Golf Club. Photograph: Richard Heathcote/Getty Images
Rory McIlroy prepares to play a shot from behind the trees on the 12th hole during the third round of the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth Golf Club. Photograph: Richard Heathcote/Getty Images
Sat Sept 21 2024 - 18:08

Eleven years after becoming the youngest winner of the BMW PGA Championship, Italy’s Matteo Manassero will take a three-shot lead into the final round at Wentworth.

Manassero, who was just 20 when he claimed his fourth DP World Tour title in May 2013, carded an eagle and seven birdies in a flawless third round of 63 to reach 18 under par, a new tournament record.

Six of those birdies came in the last eight holes to move the 31-year-old clear of playing partners Rory McIlroy and Billy Horschel, who shot 66 and 65 respectively despite intermittent spells of heavy rain.

Overnight leader Matt Baldwin, who had equalled the tournament record with his halfway total of 13 under, carded a 71 to drop four shots off the pace.

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Manassero’s playoff win in 2013 looked set to make him the next star of European golf, but he lost his way chasing extra distance and had slumped to 1,805th in the world rankings before winning on the developmental Alps Tour three years ago.

After winning twice on the Challenge Tour last year, Manassero won his first top-tier event in more than a decade in South Africa in March and now has his sights set on a second victory of the season.

“It would mean winning one of the best events in golf outside the Majors,” Manassero said. “It’s a massive thing and against great players on a tough golf course it would mean a lot.

“It already means a lot to be here in this position having played three really good rounds of golf. That’s already a very good sign for myself.

“I did fear I wouldn’t get back because you’re never sure until you actually do it. Even when you’re playing better, doing things well and you don’t succeed then you’re never sure, even though you may be really close.”

Manassero played alongside McIlroy in the last group in the final round of the Irish Open on Sunday, with both men overtaken by Denmark’s Rasmus Hojgaard in a thrilling finish at Royal County Down.

“I don’t think you would find one player on Tour that isn’t so happy for him,” McIlroy said of Manassero.

“To be a young phenom and then lose your game and go play the Alps Tour, the character you need to do that is amazing to see. He’s such a nice guy, level-headed and it’s good to see him back to where he belongs.”

Italy's Matteo Manassero celebrates a birdie on the 18th hole during the third round of the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth Golf Club. Photograph: Zac Goodwin/PA Wire
Italy's Matteo Manassero celebrates a birdie on the 18th hole during the third round of the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth Golf Club. Photograph: Zac Goodwin/PA Wire

McIlroy is also seeking a second victory at Wentworth after a lengthy wait, the world number three lifting the title in 2014 before going on to win his third and fourth Majors in the Open and US PGA.

“Since I won here I’ve had a few good chances I’ve let slip by,” McIlroy said after saving par on the 18th following an approach into the water.

“I’m basically a resident at Wentworth now, building a house here. I love it here. It would be amazing to get my name on the trophy again.”

Asked about bouncing back from agonisingly missing out on a first professional win in Northern Ireland seven days ago, McIlroy added: “I think it’s been a familiar story with my career.

“I have setbacks and I usually come back pretty well from them. Some are harder than others, obviously, but I think in this game you have to be resilient.

“You have to understand and recognise that you’re going to lose a lot more than you win, and you have to be okay with that and you have to accept that.

“I haven’t won since May but have given myself plenty of chances. I’m due, but that doesn’t mean it’s necessarily going to happen.”

Horschel is yet another player seeking a second BMW PGA Championship title having become just the second American winner after Arnold Palmer with his one-shot win in 2021.

The 37-year-old made seven birdies in a row from the eighth, just two short of the Tour record, and also birdied the 18th to join McIlroy and Manassero in Sunday’s final group.

“The hole looked like the size of the Atlantic Ocean,” Horschel said. “I made some long putts and had some close ones, as well. It was pretty special.”

Pádraig Harrington matched McIlroy’s 66 in the third round to move into a share of 21st position on eight under. The 53-year-old Dubliner went bogey-free on the day after starting from the ninth hole and carded six birdies.

Tom McKibbin also carded six birdies and a double-bogey five on the par-3 second in a four-under 68 that moved him to seven under. Shane Lowry will start his final round on the same mark after recording a one-under 71 for the second day.