Manuel Elvira and Italy's Filippo Celli entered the final day of the BMW PGA Championship sharing the top spot after both players birdied the 18th hole, pulling ahead of the rest of the field at the historic Wentworth Club. Their clutch finishes on the closing hole left them tied at 11 under par, setting up a dramatic showdown on Sunday.
Remarkably, the leaderboard was incredibly tight heading into the last round, with twenty competitors positioned within four strokes of the leaders. Among them was former world number one Rory McIlroy, who produced a spectacular finish on the 18th that sent the gallery into a frenzy. McIlroy’s eagle on the final hole brought him to 9 under par, just two shots shy of the leading duo, and placed him in a four‑way tie for sixth after 54 holes alongside Adam Scott, Joaquin Niemann, Davis Bryant and Kristoffer Reitan. The tournament has been played in windy conditions, which have added an extra layer of difficulty.
Spain’s Alejandro Del Rey and the American pair Johannes Veerman and JJ Spaun were all tied with Elvira and Celli at 12 under par late in the third round. Both Del Rey and Veerman produced spectacular rounds of 64, eight under par, propelling them up the leaderboard and demonstrating how quickly the scores can shift when the wind is in a player’s favor. Celli’s third round was a masterclass in resilience. After a solid front nine, he launched a charge on the back nine, carding four birdies to surge ahead of the chasing pack.
His final hole was a moment of pure luck: his approach struck a wooden bulkhead that lines the water hazard, bounced off the barrier, and miraculously avoided the water, landing in a greenside bunker. From there he salvaged a birdie, finishing the round with a 69.
"I’m very happy because today was very tough," the 26‑year‑old Italian said after his round. "It was windy out there, so I’m pleased with how I handled the situation. The wind shifted at times, making it difficult, but I stayed patient on the front nine knowing the back nine would give me more birdie chances." Elvira also capped his round with a birdie on the 18th, posting a four‑under 68.
He expressed confidence heading into his debut on the DP World Tour, saying he feels ready to compete at this level. The leaderboard remained densely packed, with several high‑profile players still in contention. Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre delivered a flawless, bogey‑free back nine to climb to a tie for 11th at 10 under par.
He was joined in that group by Sweden’s Ludvig Åberg, Australia’s Ryan Fox, England’s Matt Wallace and England’s Sam Bairstow, all of whom were within striking distance of the leaders. Adam Scott, who had to fight his way back into contention, reflected on the difficulty of the week: "It was a grind out there.
I saw all those low scores on the board, but it didn’t feel attainable. One step forward, two steps back – it was hard to find a rhythm and a clear target to attack." Other notable stories emerged. First‑round co‑leader Aaron Rai struggled to improve his score on Saturday, finishing the day at nine under. Meanwhile, Matt Fitzpatrick surged forward to join Rai, Ryan Gerard, Alex Noren and Jordan Smith three shots off the lead.
McIlroy’s third round was a roller‑coaster. He opened with a birdie on the fourth hole but was quickly penalized by a bogey on the eighth, a hole that has haunted him all week.
He repeated the pattern on the ninth, leaving him three over par on the eighth after three rounds. Despite the setbacks, the Northern Irishman found his groove late, birdieing the 12th after an excellent chip, and then unleashing a powerful three‑wood on the 17th that carried the ball 375 yards down the fairway. He followed that with a precise 230‑yard approach that landed within a few feet of the pin, setting up an eagle on the 18th that drew a roar from the crowd.
Looking ahead to Sunday, McIlroy emphasized his intent to be aggressive on the back nine, especially given the tight leaderboard and the valuable Race to Dubai points at stake. "Sunday will be interesting," he said. "There are a lot of people around the leaders.
The conditions over the last couple of days have kept the field bunched because it’s been so tricky. I’ll probably try not to look at the leaderboard on the front nine, and if I need to play a little more aggressively on the back, I’ll do it." The final round promises a thrilling climax. Viewers can watch the featured groups from 9 a.m.
on Sunday on Sky Sports Golf, with full coverage kicking off at noon. Those without a Sky subscription can explore the latest Sky Sports deals or stream the event on NOW without a contract.
The race for the BMW PGA Championship title—and the accompanying Race to Dubai points—remains wide open, making the final day a must‑watch for golf fans worldwide.