Matteo Manassero stamped his authority with a flawless third round of 63 to move three shots clear of Rory McIlroy and Billy Horschel at the BMW PGA Championship.
Six players held the lead in some capacity during a thrilling Saturday which started in torrential rain and finished in glorious sunshine at Wentworth.
However, it was Italy’s Manassero who took the sell-out tournament by storm after carding an eagle and six birdies to reach 18 under – the lowest 54-hole score to par in the event’s history – and sit three clear of playing partners Horschel and McIlroy at 15 under.
The 31-year-old won this event in 2013 before a loss of form saw him lose his playing rights five years later and resulted in him stepping away from the game for a few months before returning on the Alps Tour.
Manassero worked his way through to the Challenge Tour and regained his DP World Tour card for the current campaign, winning his fourth title at this level at the Jonsson Workwear Open in South Africa March.
It will be the second time in two weeks that Manassero and McIlroy will go head-to-head in the final group on Sunday, following last week’s Irish Open at Royal County Down.
Overnight leader Matthew Baldwin recorded a 70 to sit in fourth at 14 under, while Antoine Rozner and Thriston Lawrence were one further back.
Speaking about his third round 63, Manassero said: “That’s one of the best rounds I’ve ever played. Considering the conditions at the beginning especially. It rained a lot, and the course is playing soft, but also long. There’s not too many birdies out there, but I made the best of it, and it was a fantastic round.
Regarding the challenge that still lies ahead, he added: “I know what I’m going to face tomorrow, and it’s great position to be in, but it will not be an easy task. It’s been more than 10 years since I last won this event, but I have a better perspective about golf and being at the top of the leaderboard. It’s never a comfortable position, but you just have to try to embrace it.”
“THE HOLE FELT AS BIG AS THE ATLANTIC OCEAN”
Horschel, who went on a run of seven straight birdies during his third round, and is also a previous winner at Wentworth in 2021, said: The hole looked like the size of the Atlantic Ocean today. I made some long putts, and had some close ones as well. It was pretty special.
“I look back all the time on my 2021 win, especially when I start coming over here. Tonight I’ll reminisce a little bit. But I know it’s going to be a shootout tomorrow. I don’t know how bad the weather is going to be but the leaderboard is tight. No one is running away with it. So you have to come out and play some really good golf to try to hoist this trophy again.”
McIlroy, who won this event in 2014, said: ” It was good. The course I thought was playing a touch easier today. We had preferred lies out there and then with the rain, the course played quite soft. Very receptive. Felt like I played well. I sort of weathered a bit of a storm the first few holes.
A couple nice up-and-downs, and then played very solidly after that. Didn’t really make too many mistakes. I had a few chances that I let slip there on the back nine, but got going out there on moving day, shooting 6-under par, trying to keep up with Matteo.
He added: “Wentworth is a special place for me, so to give myself another chance here tomorrow, really happy. I won here in 2014, I’ve had a few good chances I’ve let slip by. I’m basically a resident at Wentworth now. Building a house here, too. I love it here. It would be amazing to get my name on the trophy again.”