Rory McIlroy Climbs the Leaderboard at PGA Championship
Rory rallies, gets 'a little bit closer' at PGA

Image: Espn
Rory McIlroy shot a 4-under 66 in the third round of the PGA Championship, moving to 3 under overall, just one stroke behind clubhouse leaders Matt Schmid and Nick Taylor. After a rocky start, McIlroy expressed confidence in his ability to contend, citing previous comebacks in major tournaments.
- 01McIlroy was tied for 105th after a 4-over 74 in the first round but improved significantly in subsequent rounds.
- 02He became only the fifth golfer to win a major after being 50th or worse following the first round, with the last instance in 1996.
- 03McIlroy's successful birdies included an 81⁄2-foot putt on No. 1 and a 121⁄2-footer on No. 5.
- 04Chris Kirk nearly tied the course record with a 5-under 65 but suffered a double-bogey on the 18th hole.
- 05Kristoffer Reitan made two eagles and finished with a 5-under 65, marking his first PGA Tour victory last week.
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Rory McIlroy showcased a strong performance during the third round of the PGA Championship, carding a 4-under 66 to move to 3 under overall, just one stroke behind clubhouse leaders Matt Schmid and Nick Taylor, who both shot 5-under 65. After a disappointing start with a 4-over 74 in the first round, McIlroy climbed the leaderboard, demonstrating resilience and skill. He noted that he was only seven shots back after the first day, recalling his comeback at last year's Masters where he was similarly positioned. McIlroy's round featured impressive birdies, including a notable 81⁄2-foot putt on the first hole and a 121⁄2-footer on the fifth hole. The improved scoring conditions on Saturday, with reduced wind and more favorable pin placements, allowed several players to perform better. Chris Kirk almost matched the course record with a 5-under 65 but faltered on the final hole. Meanwhile, Kristoffer Reitan, who recently won the Truist Championship, also finished strong with two eagles, highlighting the competitive nature of the tournament as it heads into the final round.
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