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.
Hopefully when Kilkenny roll into town the craic will be mighty and Dr. Cullen hopping.
Well perhaps they Carlos GAA board could start with maybe organising a proper all county league . Only hurling played in the County is the championship which gives each player a maximum of 5 games in.
Even with football, each club player only gets about twelve games..
Reason Dublin are successful is because each player get 14 to 16 league games, plus championship and some cup games
Uneven spread of money to bigger counties like Dublin, Kerry , Kilkenny and cork . Money should be going to smaller counties .Why are the bigger counties , getting the largest slice of the cake .
2. Facts are he is a teacher and is apart of the demographic that will play the game into the future . People are working more unsociable hours than ever before . I believe Pat Spillane alluded to this a number of years ago .. . And it will have a detrimental effect on the game ..
I agree with the sentiment, but surely the onus is on Carlow and other such counties to get their houses in order first? If they’ve lost four hurling clubs in the past few years, can Croke Park really force clubs to start up again? And as an aside….is he really saying they’re not good enough for the top level of the championship, and maybe shouldn’t be there after all?
They should dismantle it and football and concentrate on some we’re fairly OK at. Rugby
There is a culture of entitlement in Carlow, not just in GAA circles,that allows them to moan & groan about their situation but fail to understand that results and improvements come as a result of good structure & governance, initiative & hard work. The article is from the heart and no doubt, borne out of disappointment & frustration, but the heartening part is the author appears to have the wherewithal to contribute constructively to an improving situation.
@Liam Mernagh: thats a load of rubbish !!
@eamonn farrell: you’re entitled to your opinion, but I think Carlie’s GAA record speaks for itself. The truth can be difficult to swallow.
@Liam Mernagh: Carlow’s even.
… just to add – i don’t see why that duality of thinking is so problematic. The giving out about the Boston trip smacks of small mindedness but it’s the same black and white thinking we see everywhere these days
Agree totally with Paul.
I don’t see why you can’t develop the game from both ends of the spectrum. Put in the work in growing the game domestically and in places where it isn’t taking hold. At the same time maintain it’s profile internationally.