Leaderboard after 72 holes
-20 Lawrence (F), McIlroy (F), Horschel (F)
First playoff hole: McIlroy 4, Horschel 4, Lawrence 6 (eliminated)
Second playoff hole: McIlroy 4, Horschel 3 - Horschel wins
That’s all from me for today, check The Irish Times Sport for Philip Reid’s report and reaction.
Here was the winning putt:
McIlroy to putt first then. Silence at Wentworth as he lines it up. Great effort but just turns away at the end. He misses!
Horschel with a putt to win then, it tracks and it’s in! Eagle for Horschel!
Billy Horschel wins the BMW PGA Championship.
McIlroy’s second shot then from 234 yards. It’s a better line this time and it’s a brilliant shot to the heart of the green for eagle. Great stuff!
Horschel from closer to the hole hits a very similar shot, both have maybe 25-30 feet downhill for eagles.
Second playoff hole: Great drive again by Horschel again, cuts the right corner, similar to the first playoff hole. Rory goes for a big draw with the 3 wood again but it’s not quite as well hit as last time, a few yards further back. Puts himself in that inbetween yardage again it seems.
Birdie for McIlroy! He holes the putt, great up and down. All on Horschel now, a putt to extend the playoff.
Horschel gets it! Another playoff hole then. Two birdies. Lawrence eliminated.
Ahead of Horschel’s bunker shot, he has a spicy interaction with the official as Lawrence is understandably told to mark his ball to avoid a backstop. It doesn’t affect Horschel much though, has maybe a six footer left for birdie uphill.
Rory’s pitch gets a pretty strange bounce, kicked to the left, was a lovely contact, similar distance but maybe a harder putt left. All on the putting.
Lawrence spinned it into the water from the bunker! That will be the end of his chances. Lawrence’s drop out wedge is to close, but that’s for bogey.
Short game contest then between Horschel and McIlroy. Long bunker shot downhill versus chip downhill.
Lawrence is blocked off on the right side. He’s taking a 3 wood and goes for a big slice and doesn’t catch it, ends up in the bunker well back.
McIlroy only has 227 left this time. Far more in range for the 4 iron this time. Goes for a soft draw but it’s too far right this time. A little awkward to get up and down, but over the water anyway.
216 for Horschel. He puts it into the right bunker. Middle of the bunker. Maybe the easiest shot of the three of them, but close to 50-50 between Horschel and McIlroy there in terms of advantage.
First playoff hole: Much better drive from Horschel this time, cuts the corner and perfectly placed on the fairway. Lawrence’s drive isn’t quite as good, down the right corner, where he hit a spectator. Now Rory goes for the 3 wood this time again and it’s over the trees and down the right. Good position there.
They will play 18 again. Here are some of the highlights from the end of the round:
Rory McIlroy for the win then. The crowd goes silent... McIlroy’s putt misses! Playoff it is then. Horschel joins them. Three-way sudden death playoff - Horschel, McIlroy and Lawrence.
Horschel hits a brilliant wedge with his third shot, spins back and almost holes it to put the cat among the pigeons! Should go to -20 for a playoff if Rory doesn’t get up and down.
28 yards to pin then for Rory. Over the water, little downslope, good lie.
It’s a safe but average pitch, took the danger out of it but could have got closer you’d think. 16 feet left.
253 yards for McIlroy. He goes for a 4 iron, big hit from there to make it from the middle of the fairway. It’s a big pull, so far left that it actually avoids the water. So it’s not too bad actually, up and down for the win. Not an easy one, but could have been much worse.
Lawrence’s putt at 18 is brilliant, was tracking all the way but just six inches short! Now the door is open for McIlroy should he birdie. All on the second shot...
Lawrence from 123 yards hits a middling wedge shot to the middle of the green that spins near towards the water. Outside chance for birdie.
Rory hits the fairway on 18, while Horschel is raging as he hits into the bunker off the tee.
Birdie too for Horschel as Lawrence decides to lay up at the last.
Here’s McIlroy’s eagle putt:
Horschel’s pitch stays on the back of the green but he would have liked it closer for birdie.
McIlroy is 47 feet away for eagle, down the hill. Holing it would tie the lead, two putts to go to the last one behind. He leaves the flag in and eyes up the putt.
EAGLE FOR MCILROY! It starts on the right way and tracks all the way to the hole. Moment of magic. Tied for the lead!
Rai’s approach to 18 from 245 yards with a fairway wood lands straight into the water, that’s the end of his challenge.
McIlroy from 282 yards with a wood hits the front of the green, brilliant hit. Unfortunate that it didn’t run on more, but a wet green. Still a long eagle putt and good birdie chance.
Horschel pulls his approach short and left. Lawrence is on the fringe of the rough at the 18th with his drive.
McIlroy’s tee shot at 17 is a good one, on the fairway and a good angle to the green. Horschel hits quite a strange shot, drops his club way back but good shot straight down the middle.
So the door opens for Rory from 15 feet. But he misses! Golden opportunity missed unfortunately. Horschel gets up and down for par to stay at -18. Lawrence safely makes his par. Still two ahead.
50 yards left for Lawrence’s third shot at the par 5 17th. He hits a low runner and it’s a nervy pitch. Gets it thin and runs it all the way through the green with no spin. He has the wedge out again, not putting from the fringe, understandable after he has chipped in twice today already. Goes right and short though, should make his par but no birdie.
Lawrence lays up on 17 with his two-shot lead, while McIlroy and Horschel safely make the fairway at the 16th.
McIlroy’s shot from 152 yards, sets up for a draw. A big high shot and fine shot to 15 feet. Horschel pulls his iron well left of the green, big error there.
Horschel laid up on 15 after being in the trees with his drive and his approach isn’t his best one, just off the green, will find it difficult to par that one. Manassero’s woes continue after the drop out, he slices another one into the trees, but bounces back into play. Nice wedge in, but will be a bogey minimum.
Lawrence rockets one low down the 17th in good shape to go for the green in two as the rain comes lashing down at Wentworth. Ahead, Rai’s wedge into 17 is poorly hit and that could the end of his race if he doesn’t get a birdie there.
Bogey for Horschel, the bad drive was costly. Bogey too for Manassero, back to -17. Now the stage for McIlroy, watched on by Gareth Bale, from 20 feet. He needs this one to put pressure on Lawrence. He misses! Just to the right, good effort, but not to be.
McIlroy with 216 yards to the flag at 15, six iron from the middle of the fairway. Brilliant long iron to heart of the green, 20-25 feet for birdie with his playing partners in trouble.
But ahead on the 16th, birdie for Lawrence with a long putt to get to 20 under. 27 feet, what a bonus. Will be hard to catch now with two par 5s to come.
Rai nails his drive at 17, straight down the middle. Lawrence at 16 hits the left side of the green but a long way for birdie. Manassero having a chat with the rules official about where he went into the ditch, delaying the final group slightly.
Three wood for Rory at 15, smack bang down the middle of the fairway. Horschel goes way right on the 15th, he’s very angry with that. That could be a pitch out from the trees. Manassero hits it right into the ditch too. Advantage McIlroy here.
Birdie for McIlroy! Fantastic putt from 11 feet and big roar from the crowd. Back to within one. Four holes left, what an exciting finish in store.
Horschel misses the birdie putt at 14, so stays at -19.
Horschel hits another excellent iron shot at 14, in the zone now. 12 feet for birdie again after an eagle-birdie run. McIlroy needs to match him and he does, similar distance.
Lawrence from 199 yards at the 15th from the trees and hits the middle of the green. Good shot. Rai’s iron shot isn’t great at the 16th, long putt for birdie.
Not the best pitch from Manassero, 10 feet above the hole. But makes his par, good putt. McIlroy’s chip from just off the green is nicely played, should be another par, which he makes. Birdie for Horschel! He joins the lead again.
Lawrence goes well left on the 15th but a good lie and a good look at the green.
Birdie for Harrington at the last for a 68. Four Irish players in the top 11 at the moment, great performance.
Manassero chases it up towards the green from the rough, but well short. McIlroy doesn’t have a great lie from 165 yards but powers through it, short and right of the green. Horschel turns the screw with another great iron shot.
Birdie for Lawrence at 14 from 12 feet, he moves into the lead!
Not McIlroy’s best drive at the 13th, he hit it into some of the thicker rough, well down there though. Horschel is middle of the fairway. Here was Rory’s drive at the previous hole:
McIlroy is close enough to the green to putt from just off and his eagle putt swings to the left but three feet left for birdie. Eagle for Horschel! Tied for the lead. Birdie for McIlroy! Second of the day in the bag, just one behind. Birdie also for Manassero. Getting very close at the top.
A brilliant shot from 180 yards by Horschel at the 12th, hits it to within four feet at the par 5 after a sweetly hit iron! He could join the lead if he holes that. McIlroy’s 326 yard drive left him only 162 to the hole. A nine iron approach misses the green to the left. But just off it, should make birdie from there you’d think.
Tom McKibbin, meanwhile, has birdied the last to get to -13. Final round 66 for him and currently 10th, good points in the race for the top 10 and PGA Tour cards. Lowry a shot further back after a 67 on -12.
Rory takes the line only he can at 12, massive drive over the trees to the fairway. Good start. Fairways made for Manassero and Horschel too.
Nice bunker shot by Lawrence and converts the birdie putt to join the lead on -18.
Good try by McIlroy but his putt just shaves the hole to the right. Par 5 12th coming up next, have been a few eagles there today so big drive by Rory is needed.
Lawrence is down the right on the par 5 12th, in the bunker in two. Rai on 13 hits another great iron to birdie range, looks the man to beat.
Manassero from the bunker hits the middle of the green, takes his medicine. Horschel’s wedge is not great and just misses the green. McIlroy’s drive was by far the longest of the day, 333 yards, and only has just over 60 yards to the green. It’s a good lie. It’s a decent wedge but down the hill and 13 feet.
Big drive by Rory at the 11th, will be a short wedge in at the par 4, but in the semi-rough. Needs to hit it closer though this time, not giving himself enough makeable birdie putts. Manassero’s head looks to be going, bad drive again into the bunker.
Manassero’s chip from up high hits the downslope and goes over the green on the other side. Could be another dropped shot. McIlroy chips it stone dead at 10 for par. Nice chip back for Manassero but it will be a bogey.
Birdie for Lawrence, he’s up to -17, while Rai takes the lead with birdie on 12!
Aaron Rai goes for it at the par 5 12th and draws it in beautifully to the heart of the green, eagle putt coming up! Two putts for a tie of the lead. Great shot by Matthew Baldwin at the 11th and has a great chance to get to -16. Lawrence hits it not quite as close but good chance too to get to -17.
McIlroy misses the green on the left at the par 3 10th, Horschel does too. Oof a very poor shot from Manassero, who is significantly more left than them two. Aaron Rai looking like the man with the momentum at the moment.
Decent chip by Manassero, but still a bit left for his par on 9. McIlroy is on the upslope with his chip, will have an eye about threatening the hole. It’s nicely played but just a foot short.
Manassero from 14 feet is short and it’s another dropped shot, leaving thing open for the chasing pack. He’s down to -18. Horschel’s birdie putt lips out! Big chance missed.
McIlroy will be satisfied to be only two behind after a sluggish front nine.
Beautiful iron shot by Horschel at the ninth to six or seven feet, good chance there. McIlroy from 175 yards hits it over the green. Manassero goes right with his bunker shot, has to get up and down to save his par.
Manassero wayward with his tee shot on 9, looks to be in the bunker. McIlroy hits a fine fairway wood straight down the fairway, good swing there. Horschel down the fairway too.
McKibbin is up to -12 and sneaks into the top 10, Lowry up to -11 and tied 14th.
McIlroy’s putt is short to the right on 8, another par. Will be disappointed to only have one birdie on the board so far, but not losing ground on his playing partners as Horschel drops a shot and Manassero misses the birdie putt.
A better wedge this time though by McIlroy and he’s above the pin 15 feet away and actually end up inside Manassero’s shot. Horschel forced to just pitch it out sideways.
Poor tee shot on the eighth for McIlroy, the short par 4. He sprays it right, hits a tree and a free look at the game but from the rough to a tight green. Manassero is on the fairway, while Horschel is even worse, pulled left and will be blocked off.
Rory hates his approach into the seventh and for good reason. Middle of the fairway from 140 yards to a back pin and hits the middle of the green then spins back all the way to the front of the green. A tough up and down from there.
Some 90 feet for McIlroy up the slope and it’s a great lag putt to about five feet. Par for McIlroy, good work for it in the end.
Hello and welcome to live coverage of the BMW PGA Championship from Wentworth, the DP World Tour’s flagship event. Rory McIlroy is chasing the lead of Matteo Manassero, who is looking for his biggest win since he became the youngest winner of this tournament in 2013. The Italian has been to hell and back with his game, and his victory would be a popular one. McIlroy is three behind the lead at 16 under as it stands and has had an average start on a day of soft, low-scoring conditions. He has had one birdie and one bogey after some good driving but a few mediocre approaches. A long way to go yet though, with three par 5s to come on the back nine. McIlroy is in the final group with the American Billy Horschel and Manassero.
Aaron Rai has taken advantage of the soft conditions with a flurry of birdies to get to 17 under, two behind, while American Billy Horschel is also going along nicely on the same score. Thriston Lawrence is on 16 under, helped by chipping in on the first two holes.
It’s been a good tournament for the Irish players, with Pádraig Harrington and Tom McKibbin just outside the top 10 on 11 under. Lowry is a shot further back on 10 under, just inside the top 25.
