So much for the Rory McIlroy procession. On an afternoon when he was supposed to press home his superiority over the rest of the PGA Championship field, a host of players were instead offered hope. Those in the galleries would, meanwhile, have been wise to pack body armour.
One of the more incident-laden days of McIlroy’s career, from the starting position of three strokes ahead, meant he slipped to three over for the day after half a dozen holes. On the 6th, he fiercely struck a female spectator’s hand with his ball when seeking to play from beneath thick foliage. As the woman in question screamed and wailed – well, you would, wouldn’t you? – McIlroy was left to retrieve the wheels that were in danger of falling off his title bid.
On his penultimate hole, McIlroy’s wayward approach shot struck a marshall. Then, at the last, the 29-year-old’s drive cracked the head of another woman and bandages were required. A bashful, clearly affected McIlroy had cause to wonder if he was featuring in an episode of ER.
“It’s never nice when you see blood,” he said. “The one on 18 shook me a little bit but she reassured me she was OK.
“I remember playing in the final round here in 2014 and Pablo Larrazábal hit a lady over on the left-hand side of 11. He basically didn’t hit a [good] shot for the rest of the round. It’s tough. What do you do? You can’t do anything. You can say sorry and maybe give them a glove but that’s not going to do anything for them.
“I’m just thankful that my ball didn’t go where they were heading and just hope that they are OK.”
With social media awash with criticism of McIlroy for not shouting a warning at the 18th, he offered a logical explanation. “It’s into the wind and it’s 275 yards to the bunker with a three-wood,” he said. “I thought it was going to pitch in the bunker, so I didn’t think anyone was in danger. Obviously that wasn’t the case.”
For all the incidents on the 17th and 18th appeared little more than bad luck – and that on the 6th was simply a miscued shot – there has been a Wentworth propensity for crowds to get far too close to play. Before McIlroy hit that fateful shot at the 6th, he had to back off as a youngster tried to take a selfie with the former world No 1. Another was holding back a tree branch to assist his hero, a matter alleviated by refereeing intervention. The European Tour may need to take note.
The stiff breeze to which McIlroy referred had a significant impact on general scoring. Storms as forecast for Sunday could be even more pertinent, with tee times adjusted to earlier than normal in mind of a worst case scenario.
In this drama, McIlroy somehow pieced together a one-under 71. He will begin the final day in a tie for the lead, at 13 under, with Francesco Molinari. The Italian signed for a third round of 66 before contemplating his Saturday evening. “I’d like to watch the Champions League final but it will be up to the kids,” he said. “So it will probably be Paw Patrol.”
A Molinari victory would propel him firmly into the European Ryder Cup picture.
Ross Fisher’s 68 means he sits on nine under. He has Branden Grace, Sam Horsfield and Alex Noren for company there. Noren produced a stunning final round of 62 to win here a year ago.
Lee Westwood’s prominence is eye-catching given his anonymity during the tournament buildup. Westwood had not played competitively at all since the Houston Open – before the Masters – and was rarely spotted even before then. A 69 moved him to eight under par.
“When the wind picks up and starts swirling around the West Course it becomes difficult, anything is possible and you can catch up a few shots,” he said.
“I love it here. I’ve always enjoyed playing Wentworth. First time I came here in 1994 to play this championship; I had watched it on TV and felt like I knew it before I even played it. Then I kind of fell in love with it and the improvements they have made recently have made it even better.
“I have a few aches and pains. My knee is not so good and my shoulder always aches a little bit but mentally I’m fresh. I feel pretty good.
“I’ve been looking forward to this week for a few weeks now. But after such a long time off, I really didn’t expect to be this sharp.”
