Manuel Elvira and Italy's Filippo Celli entered the final day of the BMW PGA Championship tied for the top spot after both carded birdies on the 18th hole, pulling ahead of the rest of the field at Wentworth. In an astonishing display of depth, twenty competitors will start Sunday within four strokes of the leaders, a scenario that includes Rory McIlroy, who produced a dramatic finish on the 18th by sinking an eagle that brought him to just two shots behind the pair at eleven under par. McIlroy joined four other golfers—Adam Scott, Joaquin Niemann, Davis Bryant and Kristoffer Reitan—in sharing sixth place after the first 54 holes.
The tournament has been played in gusty conditions, and the leaderboard has remained tightly packed throughout. Spain's Alejandro Del Rey and the American duo of Johannes Veerman and JJ Spaun were also level with Elvira and Celli at twelve under par late in the third round, each having posted remarkable eight‑under 64 rounds that vaulted them up the standings. Celli distinguished himself on the back nine, delivering four birdies that vaulted him above the chasing pack.
His final hole was a moment of pure luck: his approach struck the wooden bulkhead that lines the stream, rebounded off the barrier, avoided the water and settled in a greenside bunker. From that position he holed a birdie putt to finish the round with a 69. "I'm very happy because today was very tough," the 26‑year‑old Italian said after his round. "The wind was shifting constantly, so staying patient on the front nine was key.
I knew the back nine would give me more chances to make birdies, and it paid off." Elvira also birdied the 18th, posting a four‑under 68 and declaring that he feels ready to make his debut on the DP World Tour a success. Their performances have left a number of other high‑profile players still very much in the mix. Robert MacIntyre produced a flawless, bogey‑free back nine to climb to a tie for 11th at ten under par, while Ludvig Åberg, Ryan Fox, Matt Wallace and Sam Bairstow all remain within striking distance. Adam Scott reflected on his own round, noting the difficulty of the day: "It was a grind out there.
I saw all those good scores on the board, but it never felt like they were achievable for me. One step forward, two steps back—finding a rhythm was tough, and I couldn't settle on a clear target to attack." Elsewhere, early‑round co‑leader Aaron Rai was unable to improve his score on Saturday, finishing the day at nine under.
Matt Fitzpatrick surged forward, joining Rai, halfway leader Ryan Gerard, Alex Noren and Jordan Smith three strokes behind the leaders. McIlroy's third round was a story of ups and downs. He struggled on the front nine, posting a one‑over, and the eighth hole proved to be his nemesis, costing him a bogey each day for the first three rounds. After an early birdie on the fourth, he was forced to make up ground on the eighth and ninth, ultimately ending the round three over on that hole overall.
The reigning Masters champion, however, found his groove late in the round. A superb chip on the 12th set up a birdie, and he capped the day with a spectacular display on the 17th, striking a three‑wood 375 yards down the fairway, then hitting a precise 230‑yard approach that landed within a few feet of the pin. He finished the hole with an eagle, eliciting a roar from the grandstand crowd. With the Race to Dubai points on the line and McIlroy positioned just behind the leaders, he said he would adopt a more aggressive stance on the back nine on Sunday.
"Sunday will be interesting," he remarked. "There are a lot of players around the leaders. The conditions over the past two days have kept the field tight because the course has played so tricky. I’ll probably avoid watching the leaderboard on the front nine and, if I need to, I’ll take a more aggressive approach on the back nine." The final round promises a thrilling conclusion as the tightly packed leaderboard could shift dramatically with any swing in the wind or a single brilliant shot.
Viewers can tune in to Sky Sports Golf for live coverage beginning at 9 a.m. on Sunday, with full broadcast starting at noon.
Those without a Sky subscription can explore the latest Sky Sports deals or stream the event contract‑free via NOW. The question remains: who will ultimately claim the BMW PGA Championship title?