Text size
Italy’s Matteo Manassero will take a three-shot lead over Rory McIlroy and Billy Horschel into Sunday’s final round at the European Tour’s PGA Championship after a stunning nine-under third round of 63.
Manassero carded an eagle and seven birdies, six of which came in the last eight holes, to reach a new tournament record at 18 under par.
A one-time rising star of European golf, Manassero was just 20 when he won the tournament at Wentworth in 2013 for his fourth victory on the DP World Tour.
But he lost his way over the next decade, slipping to 1,805th in the world rankings before winning on the developmental Alps Tour three years ago.
Manassero’s revival continued with two wins on the Challenge Tour last year before winning his first top-tier event in 10 years at South Africa’s Jonsson Workwear Open in March.
“It would mean winning one of the best events in golf outside the majors,” Manassero said. “It’s a massive thing and against great players on a tough golf course it would mean a lot.”
Manassero played alongside McIlroy in the last group in the final round of the Irish Open last weekend, with both men overtaken by Denmark’s Rasmus Hojgaard in a thrilling finish at Royal County Down.
McIlroy has bounced back from that heartbreak on home soil to put himself in contention once more for his fourth win of the year.
“I think it’s been a familiar story with my career,” said McIlroy after he carded a 66 on Saturday.
“I have setbacks and I usually come back pretty well from them. Some are harder than others, obviously, but I think in this game you have to be resilient.”
Horschel is another previous winner having become just the second American winner after Arnold Palmer with his one-shot win in 2021.
The 37-year-old made seven birdies in a row from the eighth and also birdied the 18th to join McIlroy and Manassero in Sunday’s final group.
“The hole looked like the size of the Atlantic Ocean,” Horschel said. “I made some long putts and had some close ones, as well. It was pretty special.”
kca/dmc