The Scandinavian pairing of Viktor Hovland and Søren Kjeldsen share a one-stroke lead on the BMW PGA Championship, with Wentworth set for an exciting third and last spherical in entrance of packed galleries.
The match has been lowered to 54 holes after play was suspended on Thursday night following the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, with the second spherical resuming on Saturday morning. A two-minute silence was noticed at Wentworth Membership at 9.50am.
Denmark’s Kjeldsen set the early clubhouse goal of 12 beneath par as he took benefit of the circumstances to card an eight beneath par 64, with Hovland, of Norway, becoming a member of him on that quantity with a 4 beneath par 68.
Rory McIlroy will lead the ultimate spherical cost, sitting one stroke again after carding a seven-under-par 65. He’s joined in a share of third by Rafa Cabrera Bello and Thomas Detry. One stroke additional again on ten beneath par, in a share of sixth, are Shane Lowry, Francesco Molinari, Matthew Jordan, Adrian Otaegui and Talor Gooch. Gooch is the very best positioned LIV golfer on the leaderboard, whereas Ian Poulter, who can also be a member of LIV Golf, is sitting one shot additional again in tied eleventh.
Hovland stated: “My irons have been actually good this week. I feel I’ve solely missed a handful of greens over the 2 rounds, and that clearly alleviates a whole lot of stress. I nonetheless I really feel like I haven’t pushed it the perfect. however I maintain giving myself seems to be, however I haven’t made too many putts. I performed right here in 2019 shortly after I turned professional and I used to be type of slightly overawed by the expertise, however I’ve bought an opportunity to do one thing tomorrow. So it might be superior to win.
McIlroy, whose second spherical was kickstarted by an eagle on the fifth and ended with birdies at 17 and 18, stated: “I completed the season within the States off on an actual excessive, and I need to do the identical over right here. I’ve bought an ideal probability tomorrow to win this prestigious occasion, but in addition to increase the lead within the Race to Dubai rankings, after which we’ll go to Italy and try to do it over again.
“I’ve at all times preferred this match, regardless that I gained the occasion when it was performed in Could, it was very mushy, however as soon as the dates modified to September, I preferred it extra. It’s slightly like The Gamers Championship within the States, I just like the date change from Could. It’s slightly softer and I can play the sport that I need to play slightly bit extra.”