LEADERBOARD
-6 Smalley
-4 Schmid, Taylor, Aberg, Rai, Rahm
-3 McIlroy, Schauffele, Reed, McNealy
Irish:
E Harrington (F)
+4 Lowry (F)
[ Philip Reid's reportOpens in new window ]
We have a new leader, England’s Aaron Rai gets to -5 with birdies at 9, 10 and 11. And we have a new clubhouse leader, surpassing McIlroy and Schauffele as Schmid signs for a 65 on -4.
That’s all from me for this evening, back tomorrow for Rory’s assault on the final day. Hopefully the lead does not get too far ahead. A bit of wind to test the later players, but a lot of good players on moving day, you imagine it will get to -6 or better.
McIlroy’s scorecard:
Philip Reid on Pádraig Harrington
Stay tuned for Philip Reid’s dispatch from the course in Philadelphia later on how it all concludes later tonight.
Rory McIlroy speaking on Sky Sports after his 66
“Better,” McIlroy said of his round today. “It was a frustrating first few days, I wasn’t trying to be critical [about the set-up], it was just a product of the golf course. It’s going to provide a very entertaining championship, I was just saying these types of set-ups can bunch the field together.
“We’ll see what the leaders do, the wind is up so hopefully I’m not too far behind going into to tomorrow. I learn and adapt, I manage my game well on the fly, there were a few things about my game I didn’t like on Thursday, I tried to work on those Thursday evening, went out yesterday and played a lot better out there, and continued that today.”
Ludvig Aberg (-4) joins the lead! Quietly doing his business, he’s 2 under through nine on the day after birdieing the 9th. He could be joined by Rai (-3), who hit a great approach at the 10th.
An unfamiliar figure for some Matti Schmid joins the lead on -4, better known to some Irish golf watchers as Séamus Power’s partner at the recent team tournament the Zurich Classic of New Orleans. He has replaced Rahm at the top of the leaderboard, who bogeyed 11, which Justin Thomas is making an absolute hames of the 7th, into heavy rough I didn’t even know was there off the tee, then hacked into more rough.
Putting woes continue for Scheffler (-1) as he misses another short one at the 8th for bogey.
Justin Thomas (-4) joins the leaders with a birdie at the 6th, while Scheffler (-2) misses a short one at 7 to three-putt and fall back. Still very bunched up at the top, as Schauffele pars the 18th to match McIlroy’s 66 and three under for the tournament. A big contender tomorrow.
Par for McIlroy! Fantastic up and down at the last and he’s finished -3.
Rory McIlroy shoots four-under-par 66 on day three
That’s the stuff from Rory today. Some brilliant approaches on the front nine and took advantage of a great driving day. Battled hard on the tough closing holes and got some great par putts from up-and-downs on the 15th and 17th. That’s 67 and 66 in consecutive rounds, and with the wind picking up, he should be right in contention for tomorrow.
McIlroy (-3) got over the bunkers, but a bad lie in the rough despite being 345 yards off the tee. Can’t advance it as far as the green from 140 yards, a tough leave left with his pitch. He’s hit a fantastic pitch, about as good as he could do, but six or seven feet for par.
Meanwhile, Scheffler (-3) has birdied the 6th, he was quiet so far to start, but the world number one and defending champion often accelerates from here, although his approach to the 7th was disappointing.
Some quotes from Pádraig Harrington, speaking to Philip Reid at Aronimink, who said he suffered from cramp on the way in. As can happen for a veteran:
“I definitely left a few out there. In terms of winning the tournament, I probably needed those two or three shots I left out there today ... the key for me is not to come here feeling like I’ve got to be perfect and have my everything go right for me, and clearly everything hasn’t gone right for me so far this week, and I’m still doing okay. I know I still can be competitive.”
The fact Harrington is still talking about winning showing his mentality.
Bogey for McIlroy! Decent chip but doesn’t hole it and it’s a second drop shot of the day. But unfortunately he’s hit into trouble on the 18th too off the tee.
The wind is actually picking up quite a bit, so getting in the house at -3 might not be as far back as previously thought. Smalley (-3) bogeys the first, nerves hitting.
He’s replaced though by a big-hitter. Rahm (-4) is looking smooth and birdies the ninth to join the lead.
Oh dear. McIlroy’s (-4) bunker shot was plugged in the bunker, a bad break. He stabs it out, but not far enough and catches the rough and stays there. Trouble here and likely to fall out of the lead.
An aggressive line by McIlroy (-4) on the par 3 17th but doesn’t get the distance to the green and he’s in the front bunker, has to get up and down to keep the round going. Meanwhile, big-hitting 21-year-old Potgieter joins the leaders on -4 with a birdie at the second.
McIlroy (-4) hits a big flop over all the slopes on the green, it’s slightly overhit but it’s not bad, about 12 feet for birdie on 16. Greyserman (-3) immediately drops back out of the leading players with a bogey on 2.
Par for McIlroy. Not to be this time.
344 yards was McIlroy’s (-4) drive at the par 5 16th, 244 with an iron from the rough and he smashed it, got a bit of a flier and he hits it over the green to the right. Tricky chip but also again plenty of green to work with an he’ll be fairly satisfied with that.
McIlroy (-4) takes a bit longer than usual in set-up to hit the drive at the 16th, par 5 and again misses the fairway hitting into a par 5 unfortunately. But with 191 mph ball speed, it’s gonna be well down there.
Elsewhere Greyserman (-4) has tied the lead with a birdie on 1. He follows it up though with a wild slice on the 2nd tee.
Not the best pitch ever by McIlroy, 12 feet up the hill to save par and to stay in a tie for the lead.
Par for McIlroy! Straight in and what a momentum saver. Fantastic, with a par 5 to come at 16.
Today, McIlroy has gained 4.6 shots on the field, with +1.79 on the field off the tee.
The 15th hole is a beast today, 551 yard par 4, and even for a big-hitter like McIlroy (-4), he can’t make it in two from the rough. From 217 yards, he muscled it up to 56 yards short of the green, but plenty of work to do to make par.
Here is Jon Rahm making his move:
McIlroy (-4) actually hits a poor putt this time, didn’t hit it hard enough and left himself a little tester but holed it alright for par. It’s a good sign though when he’s annoyed by pars. Four holes left, one par 5, he will be looking to sign for 63 or 64 with another few birdies.
Sometimes you think it’s going to be a ho-hum Major where the Irish don’t contend but that doesn’t happen too often these days, especially with a supreme talent by McIlroy (-4) who hits another glorious iron at the 14th to set up a birdie chance. This is magnificent stuff today.
Jon Rahm (-3) is among those just behind though and ready to go much deeper under par after two birdies in his first five holes.
Scheffler misses the birdie on the first surprisingly, his putt slips by the hole. Aaron Rai has birdied two of the first three and goes to -3. Will be a lot of upward moving today. 12 players within one of the lead.
Birdie for McIlroy! From five feet he holes it and he’s tied the lead on -4. Wow, what a turnaround from Thursday afternoon.
Superb shot by Scheffler (-2) at the first to six or seven feet for birdie. He’s understood the assignment, it’s birdies or go home today. McIlroy’s (-3) bunker shot at the 13th is pretty good. About five or six feet for birdie.
Meanwhile, Niemann (-3) has made a significant move, birdie and eagle in consecutive holes to get to -3.
Scheffler (-2) is under way for his final round as McIlroy (-3) pulls it a bit at the short par 4 13th, which has been moved up today and has yielded some eagles. He’s in the bunker to the left of the green but plenty of green to work with and could yet make birdie with his short game.
McIlroy’s (-3) long birdie putt was right on the line, it’s about two feet short but should tidy up for his par on 13. Sam Burns and Xander Schauffele have also joined the party on three under with birdies.
Not the best approach ever by McIlroy (-3) by his high standards and he’ll have a long putt left for birdie on 12.
Here’s his birdie at the 11th:
McIlroy (-3) is long again off the tee on 12, and straight again, splitting the fairway. Making mince meat of Aronimink’s test today and flying it.
Birdie for McIlroy! Superb putt and his fifth birdie of the day, the charge is on! It was a good approach to 10 feet after a great drive. He’s -3 for the day and one off the lead.
Elsewhere, Kirk double bogeys the last, wow. Surrenders the co-lead and falls to -2. Shows there is still danger out there.
Pádraig Harrington shoots three-under-par round of 67 on day three
What a brilliant effort by the Dubliner, a 67 in a Major at 54 years of age. His game is timeless.
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McIlroy with another great drive at the 11th, in the zone now. Long and down the middle.
Harrington on 18 went wayward off the tee to the right, but his approach went just short and left of the green. His putt from off the green was nicely judged to three feet and he has that to finish his round three under. McIlroy has two-putted for par.
Kirk (-4) has shown what can be done today and with a birdie at 17, he joins the lead. He’s 7 under for the day and another birdie would tie the Major record of 62. Jon Rahm (-2) has also birdied the first.
McIlroy’s (-2) approach at the 10th is to the middle of the green, outside chance for birdie. A much better approach by Koepka, but it was his third shot in and he missed the putt to go back to Even par.
McIlroy’s (-2) drive is another bomb on the 10th, that range session on Thursday has really sorted things out. A reminder though that none of the leading players have started yet and the easier conditions should mean someone increases the leading score considerably better than -4.
A class chip by McIlroy to set up birdie! Gets the spin right and it just feeds down to the hole to a foot. That will get him to -2 and within two of the lead.
Playing partner Koepka makes eagle! After hitting it over the green in two, chips in for birdie after eight straight pars to get to -1.
McIlroy (-1) can’t make it to the green in two from the rough at the par 5 ninth, so he will have to get up and down for birdie and keep the momentum going.
Harrington (E) hasn’t managed to birdie the par 5 16th. Left off the tee in the rough, his second was hacked out to short of the bunker in front of the green, still in the rough. A good pitch to eight feet but the putt slipped by.
Shane Lowry finishes with level-par 70 in round three
Some moments of magic, notably another chip-in by Lowry, but he failed to make the move that was required on an easier day of scoring. He will just be playing for pride and a bit of money/ranking points tomorrow at +4.
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McIlroy (-1) got up and down from the fringe at the par 3 8th, now the par 5. McIlroy pulls his drive at the par 5 and he shouts for it to go left and get into the trodden areas where the spectators have been.
Big move too by Kristoffer Reitan (E), who eagles the 16th to get to -2, five under on the day.
Birdie for Harrington! He holes that putt which the wood set up and his fine day continues.
Unfortunately, the alcohol is starting to flow in Philly, even though it’s barely passed midday, and someone shouts “miss the green” at Rory (-1) for his tee shot. Which is just a tad too far to the left, in the fringe beside the green.
Three birdies in a row by 2024 champion Schauffele, he makes a significant move to get to -2.
Par for McIlroy at the 7th, going along nicely and a par 5 to come on the 9th. He hasn’t really taken advantage of them this week, that needs to change if he’s to threaten the lead. Realistically he needs to get to at least -3 or -4 you’d think given the easier conditions as the lead should get to -6 or -7 minimum unless conditions change.
Before that, he has a tricky tee shot at the 8th to navigate.
Justin Rose has made quite the move today, up to -3 and six under on the day. Like a completely different course they’re playing. McIlroy (-1) is just bombing it down every hole and attacking, but is a bit heavy handed on the 7th from 58 yards and he’ll have 27 feet left for birdie. He’s been within 100 yards with his approaches several times today already. The driver in top form again.
A cracker by Harrington (+1) on the 15th! With a wood from 270 yards to four feet for birdie at the long par 4 into the wind. That to get back to Even par.
Good lag putt for Rory (E) on 6, he’ll have three or four feet for birdie. Missed that length for par on the 4th, but he’ll fancy his chance of getting under par there.
Birdie for McIlroy! Confidently holed and well deserved after the drive.
Bogey for Harrington! Sadly Harrington drops to +1 after bogeying the 14th. His tee shot went in the bunker, hit his recovery to 12 feet but missed the putt.
Birdie for McIlroy! Excellent response to the dropped shot, immediately birdies the next one. Tee shot from 153 yards to 12 feet from the hole, drains the putt to get back to Even par.
Then on the next hole he hits an incredible drive. On the 5th, which is 397 yards, he cuts the corner and it rolls up to the green, hitting it 369 yards. Wow, he has that for eagle!
Check out this shot by Shane Lowry:
Bogey for McIlroy! Oh dear, he misses from about three feet for par, his putt hits the edge and lips out and that’s back to square one on the 4th, disappointing.
Chris Kirk is another who is -5 for the day, and -2 for the tournament. Michael Kim is now -6 for the day, -1 for the tournament.
Justin Rose (-2) is flying up the leaderboard and just missed a chance to move within one of the lead. Harrington (E) is keeping it steady with five pars in a row as he’s on the 13th hole.
132 yards for McIlroy (E) from the fairway at the 4th, but not a great approach this time, gets a hard bounce with the wedge and goes over the back.
McIlroy (E) hits a good wedge to the green on the 2nd from 80 yards to about 10 feet, but the putt just slips by for birdie. On the 3rd, he is in the bunker off the tee, but sets up another birdie chance, albeit farther away than before
Back-to-back birdies for Lowry! He gets back to +3 after chipping in on the 14th.
Rory (E) at the second takes on an aggressive line and hits a big-hitting draw into the rough. But shouldn’t be too bad depending on the lie, good angle.
Harrington (E) is on the fairway at the 11th, 111 yards left for his second.
Birdie for McIlroy! Confident putt off the right edge and he’s back to even par. Within four.
Harrington (E) has got up and down, holing from nine feet at the 10th.
Harrington (E) has missed the green at the 10th, will have to use his short game powers to get up and down.
Nice shot by Koepka (+1) to the back shelf. An even better shot by McIlroy to seven or eight feet for birdie at the first! Great start.
McIlroy is heading for the first tee to a great reception. There are plenty of birdies today, maybe due to the higher temperatures and easier pins. Michael Kim is 5 under for the day thru 9, 2 under for the tournament. Chris Kirk and Justin Rose are 4 under for the day, while our man Harrington is 3 under for the day.
Brooks Koepka (+1), his playing partner today, is down the fairway. Great drive by Rory, outdriving him and on the fairway.
Just the five PGA Championships between them in this pairing.
Hello and welcome to live coverage of the third round of the PGA Championship at Aronimink in Philadelphia, where Rory McIlroy tees off his third round starting at +1, well down the field yet only five strokes off an inexperienced duo of Mav McNealy and Alex Smalley. It is the most condensed Major leaderboard in 24 years after two days, it really is at the point where anyone could emerge from the pack and win it from here. If McIlroy follows up his 67 from yesterday with another or better, then he should be in with a shot come Sunday.
On the course, Pádraig Harrington continues to stun at 54 years of age. After shooting an under par round of 69 yesterday, he started the front nine today with three birdies on 1, 6 and 7 to move within four of the lead on Even par. What a legend and we’ll be monitoring how he goes too. Shane Lowry is also on the course, but no fireworks at 4 over for the tournament.
