Rory McIlroy digs deep to retain share of lead at BMW PGA

Rory McIlroy needed every ounce of his battling qualities as he fought back from a torrid start to the third round to retain a share of the lead with Francesco Molinari at Wentworth.

McIlroy frittered away his overnight three-shot lead within six holes and left two spectators and a course marshal needing medical treatment, although he dug deep to salvage a respectable 71 on a day of tough scoring conditions on a firmer, faster West Course.

But his former Ryder Cup team-mate Francesco Molinari made light of the difficulty as he fired the only bogey-free round of the day, an impressive 66 which lifted him to 13 under, where he was later joined by McIlroy when he rode his luck to birdie the final two holes.

The top two have a four-stroke cushion over Ross Fisher, Branden Grace, Alex Noren and Sam Horsfield, who was four over for the day after 10 holes before bouncing back to nine under with five birdies coming in.

The Italian was blissfully unaware of the problems afflicting McIlroy behind him, following seven straight pars by beginning his charge up the leaderboard with birdies at the eighth and ninth before adding another at 12.

Molinari found a bonus when he chipped in for a two at the 14th and picked up further shots at 16 and 17, and he did well to scramble a par at the last to avoid his first bogey of the day after finding the water with his aggressive second.

McIlroy, who missed only one green in regulation during his second-round 65, made a confident start as he set up a good birdie chance at the first, but the putt slid by the hole and the first signs of problems with his long-game emerged at the third, where a wayward drive led to his first bogey since the ninth on Thursday.

He was lucky to avoid going out-of-bounds after carving his driving iron way right at the sixth, and his attempt to stab his ball back into play from close to a thick bush resulted in him catching it thin and sending his ball towards the gallery, hitting an unsuspecting spectator flush on the knuckles.

A clearly-rattled McIlroy scrapped his way to a double-bogey six, but he began his damage-limitation by knocking a solid iron in close at the next and converting for a welcome birdie, and he followed four uneventful pars with his third four of the week at the long 12th.

The 29-year-old hauled himself back to 12 under with a delightful up-and-down for birdie at 17, having caught a huge break when his pulled second careered into a marshal and dropped into a good lie in the first cut, although he then left another spectator needing medical treatment for a head wound with a wild pull off the 18th tee.

The spectator to the left of the fairway actually appeared to have prevented McIlroy’s ball from sailing out-of-bounds and, after apologising for the third time in the round, the world No 8 laid up close to the water hazard, pitched to five feet and rolled in the putt to regain a share of the lead.

McIlroy’s playing-partner Horsfield opened with a confident birdie before his game deserted him, dropping shots at the third, fourth and eighth before he made a mess of the short 10th and ran up an ugly five.

But the 21-year-old showed admirable resolve as he clawed his way back up the leaderboard with five birdies over the last eight holes, returning to where he started the day on nine under, alongside Fisher (68), Grace (69) and defending champion Noren (70).

Fisher enjoyed a rousing finish as he birdied 17 and eagled the last after coming within inches of an albatross, while two-time runner-up Lee Westwood is a further stroke adrift following another consistent 69.

But European No 1 Tommy Fleetwood’s challenge is over for this year as he crashed to a 77, making his only birdie of the day at the last to leave him 10 shots behind the leaders.

Due to the threat of bad weather on Sunday, tee times have been brought forward for the final round with the players going out in threeballs. Live coverage will now start at 11am on Sky Sports Golf, just in time for McIlroy, Molinari and Fisher to tee off in the final group.

(c) Sky News 2018: Rory McIlroy digs deep to retain share of lead at BMW PGA