McIlroy draws blood, shares PGA lead with Molinari

WENTWORTH (United Kingdom): Northern Irish golf star Rory McIlroy admitted he struggled in his third round at the PGA Championship but was proud he battled through to share the lead with Francesco Molinari going into yesterday’s climax.

The 29-year-old quadruple major champion said he had kept patient and drew on his experience despite at times the windy conditions exposing flaws in his game — he still came in one-under par to join last year’s runnerup Francesco Molinari on 13 under par.

They have a four shot cushion on a quartet which includes last year’s champion Alex Noren, who also had an adventure-filled round.

“It was a struggle out there today,” said McIlroy, who won the PGA title in 2014 but has also missed four cuts.

McIlroy began badly including a double bogey at the sixth where during his event-filled journey to the green he managed to hit a female spectator on the hand with one shot — her wincing in pain reflecting the feelings of McIlroy’s many followers in the gallery.

He steadied himself in the middle and kept himself on the tail of Molinari although once again on the 18th a wild drive this time drew blood from the head of another female spectator who was comforted by him and then was swathed in bandages.

“It obviously affects you when you see blood,” said McIlroy, who along with playing partner Sam Horsfield also hit the same unfortunate marshal on the 17th.

Whilst McIlroy’s round was anything but a thing of beauty Molinari’s was picture perfect with six birdies and even when the Italian put his ball into water on the final hole he managed to save par.

Noren — who denied Molinari last year with a scintillating last round 62 — is very much still in contention posting three successive birdies early on the back nine before handing those shots back but finished with two more birdies.

Veteran Lee Westwood is also lying ready to pounce as he carded a second successive 69 — leaving the 45-year-old Englishman five off the lead.

Westwood, who was named a Ryder Cup vice-captain earlier in the week but if he won the PGA could easily qualify for the team in a competition he has reserved some of his finest golf for, said he was delighted to be in with a chance of victory.