Three days ago Rory McIlroy was struggling simply to remain in frame at the 108th hosting of the PGA Championship.
There was even talk of McIlroy missing the halfway cut on the host Aronimink course, and in his first major championship appearance since winning back-to-back green jackets at The Masters.
However, McIlroy’s never been a golfer you can doubt as we have since seen over his last two rounds, getting himself back into the tourament thanks to a second round bogey-free 67 to head to day three just five shots from the front.
McILROY MAGNIFICENT ….
As @McIlroyRory muscles himself into the clubhouse lead on ‘Moving Day’ @PGAChampionship
Rors take #route66 around the host Aronimink ⛳️for a three-under tally
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✅ @TOURMISS pic.twitter.com/UN1vuGfpMw
— Fatiha (@TOURMISS) May 16, 2026
Now on golf’s traditional ‘moving day’ and McIlroy’s taken the momentary third round clubhouse lead thanks to a third day 66 for three-under 54-hole tally in the far warmer conditions.
McIlroy’s third round included six birdies and just two bogeys.
“I wouldn’t say roller coaster of emotions,” said McIlroy, who – with a win – could become the all-time European major title leader at seven. He’s currently tied with England’s Nick Faldo at six apiece.
“I had a really bad finish on Thursday, but at the end of the day, I was only seven back. Like I thought back to last year’s Masters, I was seven back after the first day, and I was two ahead going into the final day. So there’s a lot of golf and a lot of things can happen during the course of a golf tournament. I’ve progressively just got a little bit closer to the lead each day.”
RORS PROUD OF HIMSELF ..
As @McIlroyRory feels as though his @PGAChampionship ‘Moving Day’ 66 has given him a good chance
“I’m proud of myself for doing that, but there’s one more day left, and I feel like I’m — again, if I can — depending on what the guys do, be close enough… pic.twitter.com/TuBtIQ5iuK
— Fatiha (@TOURMISS) May 16, 2026
At the time, McIlroy was at three-under and with Spaniard Jon Rahm having moved to four-under through 10 holes while Justin Thomas had picked up two birdies in his six holes to join Rahm at four-under.
And McIlroy also soon had company in the clubhouse as Xander Schauffele, and playing in the next group behind McIlroy, signed also for a 66 to be tied alongside McIlroy.
“We’ll see what happens,” McIlroy said. “We’ll see what the guys do this afternoon. But I’ve climbed my way out of that hole a little bit, which is — I’m proud of myself for doing that, but there’s one more day left, and I feel like I’m — again, if I can — depending on what the guys do, be close enough to the lead, I feel like I’ve still got a good chance.”
