Updated at 1am.
WORLD NUMBER ONE Rory McIlroy will take a one-shot lead into the final round of the PGA Championship after shooting a four-under par 67 at Valhalla on Saturday.
McIlroy (-13) will be joined in the final group on Sunday by Austria’s Bernd Wiesberger who birdied his final three holes to card a mistake free round of 65 and move to 12-under for the tournament.
The County Down golfer – seeking his third win on the spin and back-to-back majors – needed three birdies of his own over the final four holes to better the world number 70′s 54-hole total of 201.
That run – which included a seven footer on the last to take the lead – also put some distance between McIlroy and some of his more high-profile challengers with Rickie Fowler (-11), Phil Mickelson (-10) and Jason Day (-10) all having to play catch up with the 25-year old on Sunday.
Indeed, there are no fewer than a dozen players within five shots of the lead so a dramatic back-nine shoot-out for the year’s final major cannot be ruled out.
However, given his recent form, few would bet against McIlroy adding the Wanamaker Trophy to his ever-growing trophy cabinet.
Elsewhere, Offaly’s Shane Lowry hit a second consecutive three-over par total to fall to +3 for the tournament while Graeme McDowell shot an even par 71 to remain +1.
Additional reporting from AFP.
