Rory McIlroy battled back into contention at the 108th PGA Championship on Saturday, carding a four-under 66 at Aronimink Golf Club to move within three shots of leader Alex Smalley heading into the final round. After opening the week with a four-over 74, McIlroy responded with rounds of 67 and 66 to climb into a tie for seventh at three under par.
The world No. 2 entered the week fresh off back-to-back Masters victories and looking to add a third PGA Championship title to his resume. With a congested leaderboard featuring Jon Rahm, Ludvig Aberg, Xander Schauffele, and Patrick Reed all within striking distance, McIlroy positioned himself firmly in the mix entering Sunday.
McIlroy’s third-round surge came during calmer morning conditions at Aronimink, where he birdied six holes and briefly moved into a share of the lead. Speaking afterward in an interview with CBS reporter Amanda Balionis, McIlroy reflected on both his turnaround and his mindset after Thursday’s difficult opening round.
Rory McIlroy Gives CBS Reporter Amanda Balionis One-Word Verdict
GettyRory McIlroy of Northern Ireland is interviewed by Amanda Balionis
Balionis asked McIlroy how he mentally recovered after opening with a disappointing 74 that left him tied for 105th place after Round 1.
“I go back to your mentality after that opening round, how easy would it have been for you to just mail it in the rest of the week? ‘This isn’t my week,’” Balionis asked. “And how mentally do you come back out of that? And now you put yourself in contention with 18 to play.”
McIlroy immediately dismissed that idea.
Rory McIlroy spoke with Amanda Balionis after completing play Saturday @PGAChampionship
“Yeah, that’s not me,” McIlroy said. “Maybe earlier in my career, I might’ve felt or thought that way, but, you know, do I have 40 chances at these majors the rest of my career, like realistic chances? So I don’t want to let any of those pass me by.”
McIlroy said he believed after Friday’s bogey-free 67 that he still had an opportunity to climb back into the tournament.
“Even after a bad start on Thursday, I knew if I could just get myself back in it yesterday, which I did, enable me to just keep climbing up the leaderboard,” McIlroy said. “I’m not going to be in the lead going into tomorrow, but I’m going to be close enough. I feel like I’ve got another chance to win a major.”
Balionis then referenced McIlroy’s one-word description of his opening-round performance and asked him to do the same for Round 3.
McIlroy answered with a smile: “Better.”
The Northern Irishman’s response quickly summed up his dramatic turnaround over the first three rounds at Aronimink.
Rory McIlroy Climbs Back Into PGA Championship Contention at Aronimink
GettyRory McIlroy of Northern Ireland
McIlroy credited improved familiarity with Aronimink Golf Club and more favorable conditions for Saturday’s low scoring.
“The wind is in a little bit of a different direction, so it makes some of the shorter holes play even shorter,” McIlroy told Balionis. “I think just as the week has went on, we’re all getting a little more comfortable with the golf course.”
McIlroy added that players were learning “whether it be lines off tees or whether it be knowing where to miss or sort of getting to know the greens better as the week goes on.”
Saturday’s round included one of the highlights of the tournament when McIlroy drove the green on the 397-yard sixth hole before converting the birdie. He later birdied holes 11 and 13 to briefly reach four under par and share the lead.
McIlroy finished the round at three under after a bogey on the par-three 17th but remained optimistic heading into Sunday.
“I felt like if I went out today and got to five under, it would make the leaders shoot under par to either be with me or ahead of me,” McIlroy said afterward. “I didn’t quite get there. I made a couple mistakes the last three holes. But I feel like I still did enough to think I have a chance going into tomorrow.”
The leaderboard remained tightly packed after Round 3. Smalley held the lead at six under, while Rahm, Aberg, Aaron Rai, Nick Taylor, and Matti Schmid sat tied for second at four under.
McIlroy and Schauffele were among four players tied for seventh at three under entering Sunday’s final round of the PGA Championship.
Rory McIlroy’s Brilliant One-Word Response to Amanda Balionis After PGA Championship Round 3