Rory McIlroy Falls Behind as Scottie Scheffler Takes Three-Shot Lead into Sunday's PGA Championship Finale

Strategic Insights -

Rory McIlroy's bid for his first PGA Championship title suffered a setback as he posted a one-over par round of 72, leaving him +2 behind leader Scottie Scheffler and fellow Ulsterman Tom McKibbin heading into the final round. Meanwhile, Scheffler will take a three-shot lead into Sunday's finale, fueled by a superb third round of 65 that saw him shoot five under par over the last five holes. The 27-year-old American covered a remarkable distance, finishing 11 under par, with Sweden's Alex Noren his nearest challenger on eight under in just his second competitive start since October.

Key Takeaways:

  • Scottie Scheffler takes a three-shot lead into the final round of the PGA Championship, standing at 11 under par after a superb third round of 65.
  • Rory McIlroy fell behind the leader with a one-over par round of 72, leaving him +2 behind Scheffler and Tom McKibbin.
  • American Davis Riley and JT Poston share third place on seven under, alongside England's Matt Fitzpatrick and Bryson DeChambeau, who is another stroke back.
  • Jon Rahm, the halfway leader, and Si Woo Kim are tied on six under, while Jhonattan Vegas is one stroke behind them.
  • Scheffler's remarkable recovery from a shocking arrest in 2022, where he was charged with four offences, including second-degree assault of a police officer, has put him in a strong position to win the title.
  • The US Open champion, Bryson DeChambeau, struggled on the closing three-hole stretch, known as "The Green Mile", dropping a shot on the 16th and making a double bogey on the 17th to fall further behind.

Statistics:

  • +11: Scottie Scheffler's score at the end of the third round, a new personal best.
  • 8 under: Alex Noren's score in just his second competitive start since October, his highest placing this year.
  • 7 under: The tied score of Davis Riley and JT Poston, alongside Matt Fitzpatrick and Bryson DeChambeau.
  • 6 under: The score shared by Jon Rahm, Si Woo Kim, and Jhonattan Vegas.
  • -3: The total score difference between Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy, with Scheffler leading +3 into the final round.

Sources:

  • https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/golf/60345810
  • https://www.espn.com/golf/story/_/id/34399819/pga-championship-scottie-scheffler-three-shot-lead-rory-mcilroy-falls-behind