Only the brave would dare imagine how Tyrrell Hatton might celebrate victory at the BMW PGA Championship following his vomit-laden antics after qualifying automatically for Europe’s Ryder Cup team, but that prospect became a distinct possibility as the Englishman produced a stunning eight-under-par round of 64 to move firmly into contention at Wentworth.
The world No25 had started the third round seven shots adrift of the lead, and five pars in succession offered few signs of an imminent charge, but Hatton then took advantage of the West Course’s soft greens with some exquisite approach play. All eight of his birdies came from inside ten feet and a bogey-free round left him two shots behind the leaders Alex Noren and Adrien Saddier.
Viktor Hovland and Ludvig Aberg, one of Europe’s star pairings in Rome, had initially dovetailed well again at the top of the leaderboard, but the latter was uncharacteristically error-strewn. Noren stepped into the void left by his countryman with aplomb as a birdie-birdie-eagle finish completed a round of 66. The Swede, who won the British Masters last month, was named as a vice-captain by Luke Donald last week, but might still feel he still has a point to prove as a player.
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If Hovland’s bogey-free round on Friday “hurt his soul”, a tumultuous 71 that included two bogeys and a double will have brought little catharsis, but he is only three shots back. Aberg’s 73 left him five adrift in a six-strong group that also includes Matt Fitzpatrick, Patrick Reed and the forlorn Ryder Cup hopefuls Harry Hall and Aaron Rai.
Saddier, the world No120, also held the lead heading into the final round of the Amgen Irish Open last week, but staving off Hatton in this form will not be much easier than Rory McIlroy on home soil. Hatton used to attend Wentworth as a child and has already won the tournament once, in 2020. The fact that the Ryder Cup team will fly to Bethpage Black for a scouting mission on Sunday night he can hardly reenact the boozy celebrations that left him passed out on a table in Indianapolis in August, but he would cherish winning in front of a packed gallery.
“There was social distancing [in 2020] so not really much celebrating. At home on your own, Zoom with some alcohol, saying cheers and tapping the iPad. It would be marvellous to talk to my wife and dad coming off the 18th. It would mean a lot,” Hatton said.
“I am looking forward to playing tomorrow, giving it my best and hopefully walking up 18 [with the lead]. There are a lot of amazing players who are pretty close. This place always gives exciting finishes. It would be lovely [to sit on the plane to New York as the winner]. I will certainly do my best to make it happen.”
Aberg had a frustrating third round at Wentworth on Saturday
DAVID CANNON/GETTY IMAGES
Justin Rose entered the weekend one shot off the lead but endured a miserable third round after two bogeys in his first three holes were followed by a missed putt from inside two feet and a double at the fifth. A rare flash of anger and a round of 76 condemned his hopes, while Hideki Matsuyama, the overnight leader, matched that unfortunate tally to tumble out of contention.
McIlroy already needed the spectacular to surge into reckoning but a double at the 17th undid much of his progress. The Northern Irishman has played the closing two holes in a collective four over par, but he still gleaned the positives from a total of 17 birdies.
“I feel like I have let the last couple of holes get in my head a little bit over the last three days. Everything else has been okay,” the world No2 said. “I’m holing a lot of putts and hitting a lot of good shots. Whatever happens tomorrow, the amount of birdies I’ve made this week, I’m pretty sure that’s a decent way to play in a match-play format.”