We're not sure who coined the phrase " the toughest course in the world is the one between your ears", but yesterday Rory McIlroy surely epitomized it as he began his 3rd round. Wild off the tee, missing little putts he went +3 through 6 holes. Gone was the confident demeanour of his 67 65 start. As they say in Ireland " he was playing like a diddy !"
He entered day at the BMW PGA Championship, the first Rolex Series event of the season with a three-shot lead but eventually carded a -1 71 in windy conditions to leave the door open for last season's runner-up Francesco Molinari who was in fine form, posting a brilliant -6 66.
It was Molinari who made an early birdie to edge into a one-shot lead at -14 and he is immediately looking the sharpest of the three. Remember he was a runner-up here last season and has five top tens in his last six appearances at Wentworth Club. Talk about horses for courses!
Rory eventually settled down, started driving properly, hitting his irons more accurately and to his credit battled back and had this to say afterwards. "I scrambled well for the most part. I was four under for the last 12 holes in this wind, which was pretty good, but it wasn't the calibre of golf that I played yesterday. I need to start hitting more quality shots and put the ball in play "
With round 4 now underway, the Tour moved the tee times up, paired the field in threesomes with McIlroy, Molinari at -13 playing with Ross Fisher at -9. Stormy weather is expected later today
As they play the 9th Molinari is in front and playing full of confidence, -3 so far, -16. Two shots behind, -1 on the day at -14 is McIlroy who is still driving it wildly at times for some reason and still struggling, so far. Will he battle back again?
Alex Noren is at -12 and Denmark's Lucas Bjerregaard is next at -11...
Follow their progress on the leaderboard link above..
Bryan Angus
(notes from europeantour.com)
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