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PGA Championship 2022 LIVE: Leaderboard & latest updates as Justin Thomas and Will Zalatoris play three-hole playoff

 (Getty Images)
(Getty Images)

Mito Pereira will take a three-shot lead into the final day of the PGA Championship at Southern Hills after overcoming a shaky turn to surge out in front on Saturday. Pereira birdied the last to card a 69 and remain ahead of overnight leader Will Zalatoris and Matthew Fitzpatrick, who put himself into contention after shooting an excellent 67.

Rory McIlroy’s bid to end his major drought suffered a significant early blow, however. After a run of five straight pars, McIlroy pulled his tee shot to the par-three sixth into the water and ran up a double-bogey five to drop back to two under par. It would be followed by a triple-bogey six and although a run of birdies helped, McIlroy then dropped a further shot at the 18th to finish the day at level par overall.

Earlier in the day, Tiger Woods recorded his worst ever score in the PGA Championship as a successful battle to make the cut took a heavy toll at Southern Hills. Woods shot 79, his previous worst score in the US PGA being a 77 in the first round in 2011. “I just didn’t play well,” Woods said. “I didn’t hit the ball very well and got off to not the start I needed to get off to. I thought I hit a good tee shot down two and ended up in the water, and just never really got any kind of momentum on my side.”

It was confirmed after the conclusion of the third day that Woods had withdrawn from the tournament and the 46-year-old will not play in the fourth round.

Follow all the action on what promises to be an intriguing final day, below:

PGA Championship leaderboard

  • Thomas and Zalatoris in championship play-off

  • Playoff through 1 of 3: Thomas 1-under; Zalatoris 1-under

  • -5: Thomas, Zalatoris

  • -4: Young, Pereira

  • -3: Fleetwood, Kirk, Fitzpatrick

Playoff: 17th hole

00:14 , Michael Jones

Over to the par-4 17th then. Justin Thomas is first to tee off again. The green is drivable here but will he take it on?

He’s got the 3-wood out and bombs it left-to-right. He carries it over the water, over the bunkers and onto the green! Eagle putt incoming.

Can Will Zalatoris match him?

He sets his tee shot off further to the right and is lucky to avoid the bunkers. He’ll have a to chip one onto the green. A birdie may still be good enough for him here. Can he get it up and down?

Playoff: 13th hole

00:09 , Michael Jones

Birdies all round. Zalatoris’ putt is a cracker and he leaves it six inches from the hole for a tap-in birdie.

That puts the pressure on Justin Thomas who still has a bit of work to do to finish off this hole. He sets it of inside the left edge and watches it drop.

Playoff: 13th hole

00:06 , Michael Jones

Oh stop it. 79-yards left for Justin Thomas and he takes an easy back lift before flicking the ball to within five/six feet for a birdie.

Over to you Will.

Can Zalatoris knock in his eagle putt?

Playoff: 13th hole

00:04 , Michael Jones

Justin Thomas lays up just short of the green with his second stroke and will be looking to knock it in close and pick up a birdie. Will Zalatoris takes out the 6-iron and hits a looping right to left draw that lands on the green and finishes about 20-feet away. He’ll have a putt for eagle.

Playoff: 13th hole

23:58 , Michael Jones

Justin Thomas tees off first and finds himself in the rough over to the right. Will Zalatoris smokes his drive into the middle of the fairway.

Advantage Zalatoris.

Thomas and Zalatoris in three-hole playoff

23:55 , Michael Jones

So, to decide the 2022 PGA Champion Justin Thomas and Will Zalatoris will compete in a three hole play-off on 13, 17 and 18.

That’s a par-5, a drivable par-4 and the tricky par-4 18th.

Justin Thomas probably has the edge due to his experience but Zalatoris has looked good all week. Can he put it another three great holes?

Missed! Double bogey for Pereira

23:50 , Michael Jones

A nightmare hole for Chile’s Mito Pereira. He makes a double bogey six on the last to drop from first to third place. He misses out on a play-off and only two men remain.

Matt Fitzpatrick makes a final par for a round of 73 but the focus moves back to Justin Thomas and Will Zalatoris.

One of them will be the PGA Champion.

That should be that

23:45 , Michael Jones

Pereira chips his fourth shot on 18 off the back of the opposite side of the green and has one last chance to make it into the play-off. He’ll be able to putt from there but it’s highly unlikely to go in.

If it does drop his adrenaline will probably carry him through the play-off to the trophy.

Pereira in trouble

23:42 , Michael Jones

Justin Thomas has moved out to the range to get loose again. He’ll be heading out with Will Zalatoris unless Mito Pereira can chip in from off the green.

After a drop shot, his third is knocked over to the left side of the dancefloor and is a long way from the hole. If he can get up and down from there though he’ll make it into a play-off.

Zalatoris pars 18

23:38 , Michael Jones

A big putt from Will Zalatoris sends him into the clubhouse on the same score as Justin Thomas. It looks as though they’ll be heading into a play-off unless Mito Pereira can pull a rabbit out of a hat.

Pereira in the wet!

23:36 , Michael Jones

Oh no. Mito Pereira what have you done? He’s taken the driver off the tee on 18 and smoked it over to the right where a couple of bounces drops it into the water!

That’s going to be a penalty drop and he’ll do brilliantly to make bogey from here.

Mere inches away

23:34 , Michael Jones

Mito Pereira bombed a driver to the front edge of the green on 17 and flicked a chip onto the dancefloor leaving himself a fairly straight putt for birdie and a two-shot lead.

When it comes off the putter it looks good but the ball slows and stops on the edge of the hole. Pereira can’t believe it didn’t drop.

He knows what he has to do now though. A par on 18 and he’ll win the PGA Championship.

Fitzpatrick’s challenge is over

23:32 , Michael Jones

He got a break off the tee on 17 by just clearing the hazard but followed that up with a pitch into the bunker. Things kept on unravelling and he finally tapped in for a bogey.

He’s down to (-3) and is three shots back.

Young birdies 17

23:27 , Michael Jones

Cameron Young isn’t out of this yet either. He makes a good birdie on 17 to move to four under for the tournament and needs a birdie on 18.

His drive falls away to the right but stays in the fairway and he’s got a difficult shot coming up to reach the green. Anywhere on the dancefloor and he’ll have a putt for a three.

Zalatoris is clinging on

23:24 , Michael Jones

A bogey on 16 is followed by a birdie on 17 for Will Zalatoris who joins Justin Thomas at (-5). He’ll have a chance on the last hole for one more birdie, JT couldn’t take it, can Zalatoris?

 (Getty Images)
(Getty Images)

Thomas into the clubhouse

23:21 , Michael Jones

All smiles after a final round of 67. He’s set the target to beat, Mito Pereira knows he can’t drop a shot over the next two holes.

 (Getty Images)
(Getty Images)

A par for Thomas

23:19 , Michael Jones

It was a close one but Justin Thomas sends his birdie putt on 18 agonisingly close to the hole yet it doesn’t go in. He settles for a par and the lead in the clubhouse at five-under for the tournament.

He’s done all he can. Four birdies in the last 10 holes has put him in arguably the best position. Over to Mito Pereira now.

Rory McIlroy’s Sunday charge at US PGA Championship ends in disappointment

23:17 , Michael Jones

Rory McIlroy’s second successive Sunday charge in a major ended in disappointment as the US PGA Championship headed for a tense climax at Southern Hills.

McIlroy finished runner-up in the Masters thanks to a closing 64 at Augusta National, a round which culminated in wild celebrations from the four-time major winner after he holed a bunker shot on the 72nd hole.

In stark contrast, McIlroy’s closing 68 in Tulsa was followed by him declining to speak to waiting reporters before quickly collecting his belongings from the locker room and heading to his car.

Rory McIlroy’s Sunday charge at US PGA Championship ends in disappointment

Nerves of steel

23:15 , Michael Jones

Mito Pereira is a little further away than he’d like on the 16th green and he’ll have just heard the roars from JT’s shot on th 18th. His putt for par moves a little from left to right but he’s found the right line and sinks it!

He might just do it

23:13 , Michael Jones

A drive of 318 yards on the 18th leaves Justin Thomas just 169 yards to the flag. The wind is with him as he sets the ball off with an eight iron. One bounces onto the green and a little roll leaves JT with around eight-10 feet left for a birdie.

If this goes in Thomas could win the tournament at (-6).

Drop shots all round!

23:08 , Michael Jones

Young misses and makes double bogey, he falls back to (-3) with two holes to go and Zalatoris makes bogey to join Fitzpatrick at four-under.

Justin Thomas is now out in second place on his own and is well positioned on the 18th fairway.

Young struggling at 16

23:07 , Michael Jones

Cameron Young is starting to feel the pressure that continues to mount out there. Over on the 16th green he has a long putt for par and leaves it well short of the hole. There’s about six or seven feet left and that putt is by no means safe.

Will Zalatoris is in a similar spot of bother. He gives his birdie putt a chance to drop but slides it past and faces a tricky return putt for par.

Thomas within one

23:02 , Michael Jones

A much needed birdie for Justin Thomas comes on 17 after he missed the chance for an eagle. Still, it’s a massive shot gained as he moves within one shot of the lead with just one hole to go. Can he birdie the 18th too?

 (AP)
(AP)

Speaking of birdies

23:00 , Michael Jones

Take a bow Matty! Fitzpatrick shouldn’t have a hope of making birdie on 15 but it’s a perfect chip across the length of the green and the crowd erupts as the ball drops into the cup!

Mito Pereira follows him with a birdie putt but he pushes it to the right. That’s the pressure of trying to win the PGA Championship.

Slumped shoulders from Fitzpatrick

22:58 , Michael Jones

Matt Fitzpatrick spanks his drive on the 15th into the rough then slices his second over to the right of the green. He cuts a disappointed figure, shoulders slumped and trudging up to the ball. He’s only three behind the lead so a couple of birdies and he’s right back in the contest.

Drop shot from Pereira

22:50 , Michael Jones

Mito Pereira gives a shot back to the course on the par-3 14th. Not what he wanted after a birdie on the previous hole.

Luckily for him Cameron Young can’t capitalise with a birdie putt of his own on the 15th and he has to settle for par, still one behind the leader.

What a shot JT!

22:48 , Michael Jones

Justin Thomas finds the green side bunker on the 16th with his second shot and rules out the chance to record birdie. His sand play has been exceptional today and this shot is as good as any. He hits underneath the ball, takes a big chunk of sand and rolls it across the length of the green to within a foot for par.

Three under leads in the clubhouse

22:41 , Michael Jones

Tommy Fleetwood and Chris Kirk are both safely into the clubhouse with scores of (-3) for the tournemant. They are the two leaders in the clubhouse and will be keeping an eye on proceedings. There have been plenty of drop shots and there are plenty of holes still to play.

Under pressure

22:37 , Michael Jones

Cameron Young can’t hold his nerve on the 14th green and he drops a shot with a bogey five.

It’s a two shot swing as Mito Pereira eases the pressure with a solid birdie on the 13th. He had a putt for eagle that he rolled up to the hole for a gimme birdie.

Matt Fitzpatrick (-3) almost got himself back into the mix but his own birdie effort lips out of the hole.

Close!

22:32 , Michael Jones

Justin Thomas almost moves within one of the leaders with a birdie putt on the 5th. It looks good as he lets it roll but it swerves to the left at the last minute and skirts by.

If he can make another birdie the guys behind him will start to feel very nervous.

Pereira under pressure

22:27 , Michael Jones

The pressure is ramping up on Mito Pereira who can’t find any rhythm. He saved par on nine, 10 and 11 but the drop shot finally arrived on the 12th to move him alongside Cameron Young at (-6).

The Chilean is three over for the round but has the 13th up next which is a par-5. Can he score a birdie or better here to stop the rot?

Thomas hangs on

22:20 , Michael Jones

Justin Thomas (-4) errs on the par-3 14th but manages to recover to slot a six-foot putt home to save par and stay within three. If he can get into the clubhouse at five or six under he’ll have a proper chance of winning this.

Fitzpatrick falling away

22:17 , Michael Jones

It’s been a terrible start to the back nine for Matt Fitzpatrick who has bogeyed the 10th and the 11th to slump to -3 and four shots off the lead.

 (USA TODAY Sports)
(USA TODAY Sports)

Zalatoris wild off the tee on 12

22:10 , Michael Jones

Will Zalatoris attempts to cut the corner by going over the trees on 12 but hooks his drive into the rough. From there he’s scrambling to make par and gets left with a long putt to avoid dropping a shot.

Criminally he leaves it short and as a result fall to five under.

Bogey for Fitz

22:03 , Michael Jones

Matt Fitzpatrick falls further behind with a bogey five on the 10th to move three behind Mito Pereira. The leader performs another class chip and putt to rescue his second par in as many holes.

These saves will be important come towards the end of the round.

Fleetwood moving up

21:59 , Michael Jones

A great chip on 17 by Tommy Fleetwood leaves him with two feet left for a birdie that he taps in without too much trouble to move to (-3).

Rory McIlroy finally gets an eight-footer to fall as he pars the final hole to end the weekend at (-2). Not the result he would have been hoping for after the first round but it’ll be another top 10 finish.

Tough work for the leaders

21:55 , Michael Jones

It’s been hard going for the leading four players today. Only Cameron Young is under par for the round and his consistent play - picking up birdies after dropping shots - may lead him all the way to the title.

Mito Pereira (-7) is two over for his round but has just made a great par save on nine. Can he click into gear on the back nine and move further ahead?

Pereira struggling on nine

21:48 , Michael Jones

Mito Pereira finds the bunker on the front edge of the green on the ninth and his pitch out of the sand finishes about 12ft from the pin.

It’s a right-to-left curler downhill and it needs to go in for par... bingo!

Great save from the leader, he’ll be feeling great after that one.

Consistent Young staying in touch

21:45 , Michael Jones

Cameron Young is hanging in with the leader and keeps creating opportunities to score. A 17ft birdie putt on the 10th is rolled right up next to the green and he knocks it in for another par.

Two holes ahead Justin Thomas (-4) is on the verge of a charge after a second consecutive birdie on 12 moves him within three of the lead.

McIlroy drops back

21:42 , Michael Jones

Rory McIlroy attempts to chip in for an eagle on the 17th but skips his ball through the back of the green and down the slope. His return chip isn’t great and leaves him with a putt off the second cut for a par that he slides wide.

Young gains one, Pereira drops one

21:36 , Michael Jones

There’s a two shot swing in Cameron Young’s favour as he collects a birdie on the ninth to head out in a one-under par 34. Just behind him on eight Mito Pereira makes a bogey four and drops down to -7.

He’s now two over for the day and the gap is now just one.

Thomas with the birdie!

21:33 , Michael Jones

Justin Thomas is quietly making his way around the course and takes a stride forward with a 40ft birdie from off the front edge of the green on 11.

He’s just trying to roll it up close and the ball catches the right line, before swinging in from the right and bouncing in off the back of the cup.

Thomas is up to (-3) with birdie chances still to come.

Rory McIlroy makes Sunday charge again but Mito Pereira retains US PGA lead

21:26 , Michael Jones

Rory McIlroy made a Sunday charge for the second successive major as the US PGA Championship headed for an exciting climax at Southern Hills.

McIlroy, who finished runner-up in the Masters thanks to a closing 64 at Augusta National, began the final round nine shots off the lead after following an opening 65 with disappointing rounds of 71 and 74.

That looked to have ended his chances of claiming a fifth major title and first since winning the 2014 US PGA, but McIlroy may have had other ideas and made a brilliant start with four birdies in a row from the second.

Rory McIlroy makes Sunday charge again but Mito Pereira retains US PGA lead

Pereira back to eight

21:24 , Michael Jones

Fitzpatrick’s par may just have added a touch of pressure onto Mito Pereira’s lengthy par putt and he knocks it around the back of the hole, making bogey.

Ahead of him Will Zalatoris saves par on the eighth after driving off the back of the green. The putter saves him again.

The putts aren’t dropping

21:22 , Michael Jones

Matt Fitzpatrick slides a birdie effort past the right edge of the hole on the seventh and Cameron Young drops a shot on the eighth.

Just off the green, McIlroy has a long swinging left-to-right effort for a birdie on 16. He strikes it brilliantly but the ball bobbles into the hole and bounces out!

Three to go for Rory

21:19 , Michael Jones

Nine pars in a row for Rory McIlroy. He’s just not been able to convert the more difficult chances on the back nine to pick up shots and with three holes to go he’s probably looking at -5 as a best case scenario.

The 17th is reachable in two and a good tee shot on 18 would leave him with a chance.

The wheels are coming off

21:16 , Michael Jones

Will Zalatoris is imploding. He takes an iron on the par-3 eighth and hooks it well over the green. He’s a little lucky in that the ball sits up in the rough, leaving a good line towards the flag and the potential for an up-and-down par.

 (Getty Images)
(Getty Images)

Trouble on seven

21:12 , Michael Jones

The euphoria of only making a bogey on six has been shot away from Will Zalatoris who picks up consectutive bogeys with a five on the seventh.

Cameron Young struggled to get close as well with his three approach shots but he saves himself with the putter and comes away with a par.

Fitzpatrick limits the damage

21:08 , Michael Jones

After finding the water on the sixth, Matt Fitzpatrick slots a tricky putt in for a bogey four on the three. Like Will Zalatoris just before, that will feel like a shot saved.

He moves four off the lead though as Mito Pereira (-9) two putts from the middle of the green for a par.

Pereira finds the green

21:02 , Michael Jones

The last pairing had to wait a long time whilst the officials dealt with Will Zalatoris’ wayward stroke. The wait doesn’t seem to bother Mito Pereira who sends an iron safely onto the middle of the green.

Fitzpatrick decides to go for a five iron and will need to properly smoke this one. He also attempts to go for the flag instead of bailing out to the right and gets it all wrong.

Splash! Into the water and the Englishman is in trouble.

Zalatoris drops back

20:58 , Michael Jones

Will Zalatoris (-7) drops a shot on the par-3 six but it’ll feel like a birdie. He was in real trouble off the tee and had to take a penalty shot before chipping on from the cart path.

He still had work to do with a six-footer for bogey and what looked for sure like a double bogey at best sees Zalatoris only drop one. Great recovery play.

A bogey for Ancer

20:54 , Michael Jones

Abraham Ancer collects another bogey for his round and drops back to (-3) alongside Rory McIlroy who misses another birdie chance of the 14th.

Pereira back in front

20:50 , Michael Jones

Mito Pereira (-9) converts his birdie putt on the fifth to move back out in front. That lead looks set to be extended as Will Zalatoris is taking a penalty drop over on the sixth.

Matt Fitzpatrick has to settle for a par.

Chance for Herbert

20:46 , Michael Jones

Lucas Herbert (-3) has the opportunity to make a move on the ninth but his birdie effort lips out the side of the cup and he has to settle for par.

Rory McIlroy was in trouble off the tee on 13 but recovered well to set up a birdie putt that he then slid past the right side of the hole.

The putts aren’t falling for Rory.

Zalatoris in trouble

20:44 , Michael Jones

Will Zalatoris tees off on the sixth and seems to select a club too much as he belts it through the back of the green, over the road and into the forestry. That might even be out of bounds.

Cameron Young also goes over the back but he keeps his ball in play.

Eagle putt for Zalatoris

20:39 , Michael Jones

Two great shots on the par-5 fifth from Will Zalatoris sets him up with a putt for eagle from the front part of the green. He finds the correct line but it just doesn’t have the legs.

On the same hole Cameron Young slides his eagle putt past the left side of the hole but taps in for birdie to move to (-6).

Zalatoris follows him into the cup for a share of the lead (-8).

Birdie for Fitzpatrick

20:31 , Michael Jones

Matt Fitzpatrick converts on the fourth to move back to (-6) where he started the day. He’s only two shots off the lead now.

 (AP)
(AP)

Birdie chance for Fitzpatrick

20:29 , Michael Jones

On the fourth, Matt Fitzpatrick has a fantastic chance to pull a shot back after a fine drive and chip to get him within a few feet of the hole. He should knock that in but Mito Pereira also has a birdie opportunity coming up.

The leader is nine feet away, the putt moves slightly from right-to-left. He starts it wide and it doesn’t come round enough so he settles for a par.

Big drive from McIlroy

20:25 , Michael Jones

Rory McIlroy cuts the corner on the 12th with a 340-yard drive to leave a 73-yard pitch onto the green. From that distance his shot isn’t the best but he gives himself another birdie opportunity. This one needs to go in to give Rory some confidence heading into the par-5 13th.

Zalatoris makes birdie

20:23 , Michael Jones

Three consecutive pars gets him off to a fine start but things get even better for Will Zalatoris as he knocks in a five-footer for a birdie on the fourth.

He struggled with that distance yesterday but seems to have found his form again with the putter.

 (Getty Images)
(Getty Images)

Dropped shot!

20:18 , Michael Jones

Now then. Mito Pereira drops back down to eight-under after his par putt on the third rolls around the back of the hole and lips out. Is the door ajar for the chasing pack?

Matt Fitzpatrick (-5) steadily knocks his putt in for par. It’s been a good response from him since the bogey on the first hole.

Putts not dropping for McIlroy

20:15 , Michael Jones

Rory has a 30-ft putt on the 11th for a birdie and sends it curling down the right line but it just runs out of gas a few inches before the hole.

A potentially tricky chip for Pereira is flicked to within five-six feet by the leader. He’ll have that putt for a par on the third.

Pereira in trouble on the third

20:12 , Michael Jones

Mito Pereira is in the rough stuff off the tee on the third hole. He’s got 189-yards to green and whips it over to the left pulling up just short of the dancefloor. Up-and-down to come to save par.

Fitzpatrick is on the dancefloor but leaves himself another long putt for birdie.

Mistake from Mito

20:08 , Michael Jones

Mito Pereira’s tee shot on the third finds the trees over to the right and it’s the first false shot from the Chilean today.

After a par on the last hole, Matt Fitzpatrick (-5) is in pole position on the third with a booming drive down the right side of the fairway.

Rory McIlroy (-3) makes a par on the 10th as does Cameron Young (-5) who follows up and bogey on one and a birdie on two with a par on the third.

Simpson making a move

20:05 , Michael Jones

Webb Simpson (-3) is putting himself into the mix. He’s birdied the fourth and the fifth to move to three-under and is going well out there.

Mito Pereira misses his birdie chance on the second but he’s safely in for another par. Two holes down, 16 to go for the leader.

Pereira approaches the second

20:01 , Michael Jones

Mito Pereira (-9) lands his tee shot in the middle of the fairway and takes a nine iron to the front edge of the green. He leaves it just off the cut but within puttable distance.

Matt Fitzpatrick does something similar but gets a decent bounce up the slope and will have an outside chance of regaining the shot he lost on the first.

Shot back for Young

19:54 , Michael Jones

Cameron Young follows up his bogey on one with a fine birdie on the second. It’s a tricky left-to-right swinger but he reads the line well and nestles it into the middle of the cup to move back to five-under.

After back-to-back birdies on four and five, Tommy Fleetwood (-1) can’t save par on the seventh and records his first bogey of the day.

Par for Pereira

19:50 , Michael Jones

Leaving the flag in for his 30-foot birdie put on the first green, Mito Pereira leaves it short but steps up to tap it in for an opening hole par.

Matt Ftzpatrick (-5) drops a shot. He started poorly yesterday and came back to record a round of 67.

McIlroy thru nine

19:47 , Michael Jones

No joy for McIlroy who misses his birdie putt to the left of the hole. That would have given him some momentum heading into the back nine but he’s gone out in 32 which is three under par.

You feel he’ll have to replicate that score on the back nine if he’s going to have any chance today.

Good start continues for McIlroy

19:45 , Michael Jones

Rory makes a par on the eighth then monsters a 325-yard drive down the ninth fairway before chipping his second to around 15-feet. Birdie chance coming up.

Fitzpatrick attempts to draw his second shot on the first around the trees and he spanks it over the green, ending up behind the tv tower.

Bubba misses birdie putt

19:39 , Michael Jones

Bubba Watson makes it three pars on the opening three holes after sliding his chance for birdie wide on the third.

Cameron Young drops back to (-4) as he leaves his effort for par a few inches short of the hole on the first green. Not the desired start for the young American.

Pereira and Fitzpatrick get underway

19:37 , Michael Jones

There are no signs of nerves from the leader Mito Pereira (-9) as he bombs his drive on the first smack bang down the middle.

The same can’t be said for Matt Fitzpatrick (-6) who hooks his tee shot into the crowd over to the left of the fairway.

Young struggles on the first

19:35 , Michael Jones

Cameron Young did find the sand off the tee on the first hole and had to lay up in the fairway with his second. He could still save par but would have liked to be a lot closer to the hole after dinking a wedge into the green.

His putt isn’t the easiest and he could be looking at a first hole bogey.

Will Zalatoris is on the green in two and has the chance for birdie.

McIlroy with another birdie chance

19:32 , Michael Jones

On the par-3 eighth Rory McIlroy finds the right side of the green off the tee and leaves himself with a long putt for birdie. This will be some shot if it drops.

Bubba Watson (-2) gives himself a chance to pick up a shot on the third with a great approach to the third green. He leaves himself around 10-12 feet for a three.

Zalatoris and Young tee off

19:29 , Michael Jones

The penultimate group of the day kick off their rounds on the first tee. Will Zalatoris (-6) is safely down the fairway but Cameron Young is a little wide.

He’s into the rough stuff over on the left but seems to have carried his drive over the bunker that’s positioned on that part of the hole.

McIlroy inches away from a birdie

19:25 , Michael Jones

Ooooooooh. So close for McIlroy!

After he smoked his tee shot down the 7th fairway, a decent iron left him with maybe a 30-footer for birdie. He hit it well and it’s millimetres from dropping.

A par at the 7th at Southern Hills is never a bad score, so he’ll take that but he stays at (-3) and can’t get the shot he dropped at the 6th back.

Bad start for Stewart Cink

19:22 , Luke Baker

Stewart Cink off to a bad start to his Sunday as he bogeys the 1st, slipping back to -1. Better from his playing partner Justin Thomas, who safely pars it to stay at -2 alongside Bubba Watson, Tommy Fleetwood and Lucas Herbert.

Tommy Fleetwood goes back to back

19:17 , Luke Baker

Tommy Fleetwood getting himself involved now. The Englishman birdied 4th and followed that up with another at the 5th - holing a five-footer. He joins the group at -2.

Meanwhile, Rory McIlroy smokes his tee shot down the 7th fairway, a nice bounce back from his bogey at 6.

Justin Thomas and Stewart Cink underway

19:11 , Luke Baker

Players who need a good round to legitimately put themselves in contention but will still fancy the job are starting to get underway. Justin Thomas and Stewart Cink - both at -2, seven strokes back - hit their tee shots at the 1st. Fairways found for both Americans.

Bubba Watson pars the 1st so he stays at -2.

Bogey for McIlroy

19:08 , Luke Baker

His saves around the greens are normally a strength of Rory McIlroy’s game but this time it lets him down. We mentioned his errant tee shot at the par-3 6th and his chip is sub-par, leaving him 20 feet for par.

He hits a good putt but it slides narrowly by and it’s back to -3 for Rory.

Mito Pereira tries to join exclusive list

19:07 , Luke Baker

The list of South American men’s major winners is a short one - consisting of just Roberto De Vincenzo (1967 Open) and Angel Cabrera (2007 US Open, 2009 Masters).

Those two Argentines could be joined by the first Chilean if Mito Pereira can convert his three-stroke lead into victory.

Pereira won three times on the Korn Ferry Tour (the second-tier American tour) last year to earn his PGA Tour card but this is obviously a different level.

Bubba tees off

19:04 , Luke Baker

Two-time Masters winner Bubba Watson (-2) the first member of the pre-round top 10 to get underway at Southern Hills. He’s playing with Webb Simpson (-1) - another former major winner.

McIlroy misses the 6th green

19:02 , Luke Baker

Tee shot at the par-3 6th for McIlroy is right of the green but, importantly, it’s on dry land after he found the water on that hole yesterday.

The up-and-down for par shouldn’t be too stressful for Rory.

Rory McIlroy 🔥🔥🔥🔥

19:01 , Luke Baker

Three birdies in a row becomes four birdies on the spin for Rory McIlroy. He’ll have been targeting the par-fives ahead of his round and he takes advantage of the 5th.

His second shot ended up in the greenside bunker but a glorious up and down allows him to tap in for birdie.

From nowhere, he’s now at -4 for the championship. That’s into the top five and only two strokes behind second... He’s right on track to post a dangerous target.

Mito Pereira, Will Zalatoris, Matt Fitzpatrick et al will not want to see a surging McIlroy storming up the leaderboard as they seek their first major...

Mito Pereira ready to defend his lead

18:56 , Luke Baker

Mito Pereira is about 40 minutes from his tee time. It’s only his second major and he has a three-stroke lead heading into Sunday.

That’s the sort of position that dreams are made of. Can he keep his cool and convert? One thing we can guarantee - there’ll be twists and turns along the way

Good start for Lucas Herbert

18:52 , Luke Baker

Lucas Herbert started his round at -1 but he birdies the 1st hole to climb to -2. A promising opening for the Australian, up into the top ten

Upcoming tee times

18:49 , Luke Baker

Within an hour, the leaders will all be out on the course. Here are the tee times to keep an eye out for and we’ll keep you across everything:

6:55 PM: Bubba Watson, Webb Simpson

7:05 PM: Stewart Cink, Justin Thomas

7:15 PM: Abraham Ancer, Seamus Power

7:25 PM: Will Zalatoris, Cameron Young

7:35 PM: Mito Pereira, Matthew Fitzpatrick

Three in a row for Rory

18:44 , Luke Baker

At what point do we say Rory McIlroy is legitimately in contention... Another par 4 and another birdie for McIlroy as he sinks his putt on the 4th green.

That’s three birdies on the spin, he’s up to -3 and that’s currently a tie for 6th. Still 6 strokes behind Mito Pereira but logic says the Chilean will be coming back towards the field today.

 (Getty Images)
(Getty Images)

Smith makes early move

18:31 , Luke Baker

Cameron Smith is another man who was flirting with the top of the leaderboard earlier this week. He fell away with a Saturday 73 but he’s back to Evens as he birdies the 4th.

Meanwhile, Tommy Fleetwood and Xander Schauffele are playing together and they both par the 1st to stay at Evens. Fleetwood then leaves a birdie putt short on the 2nd green, while Schauffele follows him in for par.

Back-to-back birdies for Rory

18:28 , Luke Baker

And Rory McIlroy does indeed sink his putt at the 3rd. Two-under through three holes and he’s at -2 now. That’s currently T7 and a couple more birdies would see him right in the mix...

Rory McIlroy with a birdie look at 3

18:26 , Luke Baker

Rory McIlroy seemingly fancying this today. Following his birdie at 2, he sticks an iron into the heart of the green at the 3rd. Maybe a ten-footer for another birdie.

Birdie on the board for Rory McIlroy

18:25 , Luke Baker

Rory McIlroy has sort of done a ‘reverse Rory’ this week. Normally he starts a major slowly then comes storming on for a top-ten finish.

This week, he led after round one but has faded with sub-standard Friday and Saturdays. He looks like he’s started his Sunday charge from too far back though - a birdie at the 2nd as he holes a mid-range putt.

-1 for the tournament now and into the top ten. If he could somehow post, say a 64 to get to -6 that would ask some questions of the leaders at least.

 (Getty Images)
(Getty Images)

Joaquin Niemann birdies the 3rd

18:10 , Luke Baker

No-one out on the course is in the red numbers for the championship just yet but Joaquin Niemann, who flirted with the top of the leaderboard in the first couple of days, has just birdied the par-four 3rd to climb to Evens for the week.

That’s currently a tie for 17th, alongside the likes of Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood. The latter has just teed off.

Tiger Woods deserves better than to be a ‘ceremonial golfer’, says Paul McGinley

18:06 , Luke Baker

Paul McGinley hopes Tiger Woods can avoid ending his career as a “ceremonial golfer” following his withdrawal from the US PGA Championship.

Woods made the halfway cut with a shot to spare at Southern Hills, but struggled to a nine-over-par 79 in the third round, his worst score ever in the event by two shots.

That left the 46-year-old tied for last among the 79 players to make the cut and tournament officials later announced that Woods had withdrawn from a major championship for the first time in his professional career.

Former Ryder Cup captain McGinley, now an analyst for the Golf Channel, said: “All we can do is wish him well.

“We’d love to see him back, we want to see him back. He’s such a proud player that he doesn’t want to come back and just be a ceremonial golfer.”

Tiger Woods deserves better than to be a ‘ceremonial golfer’, says Paul McGinley

Rory McIlroy off to a solid start

18:01 , Luke Baker

Rory McIlroy’s round is underway and he pars the 1st to stay at evens for the Championship. Just the nine strokes behind Mito Pereira.

All Rory can do is try and shoot low and then hope for something truly bizarre to happen behind him.

Matthew Fitzpatrick three shots off the pace headed into final round at US PGA Championship

18:00 , Luke Baker

Six days after declaring Southern Hills was “not really my cup of tea”, Matt Fitzpatrick heads into the final round of the PGA Championship in contention for a maiden major title.

It came as Tiger Woods withdrew from the tournament just hours after recording his worst score in the event. Woods made the halfway cut with a shot to spare at Southern Hills, but struggled to a nine-over-par 79 in the third round.

But later in evening Fitzpatrick made light of the cold, breezy conditions to card a superb 67 and end a rollercoaster day three shots behind pacesetter Mito Pereira, the PGA Tour rookie continuing to impress on just his second major start.

Pereira went from one behind playing partner Will Zalatoris to four ahead in the space of six holes, then saw his lead cut to a single shot after four bogeys in five holes around the turn before back-to-back birdies on 13 and 14.

The 27-year-old from Chile also birdied the last to card a 69 and finish nine under par, with Fitzpatrick and Zalatoris – who recovered from playing his first seven holes in four over to return a 73 – on six under.

Matthew Fitzpatrick three shots behind headed into final round at PGA Championship

Mito Pereira with three-shot lead at PGA Championship as Tiger Woods withdraws

17:55 , Luke Baker

Chile’s Mito Pereira will take a three-shot lead into the final round of the PGA Championship, which will be played without the presence of a previous winner at Southern Hills.

Moments after Pereira birdied the 18th to bring round three to a close, tournament officials announced that Tiger Woods had withdrawn from a major for the first time in his career.

The news came as no real surprise given that Woods had earlier struggled to a nine-over-par 79, by two shots his worst ever score in the event and one which left him in joint last of the 79 players that made the cut.

Whether Woods – who won the 2007 US PGA at Southern Hills – will contest next month’s US Open remains to be seen, although he has previously stated his intention of teeing it up in the 150th Open Championship on the Old Course at St Andrews in July.

Playing in just the second major of his career, Pereira’s third round of 69 gave him a three-shot advantage over England’s Matt Fitzpatrick and halfway leader Will Zalatoris, with Cameron Young a shot further back.

Matt Fitzpatrick relishing chance at securing first major title at PGA Championship

Rory McIlroy suffers early blow to slip further back at PGA Championship

17:52 , Luke Baker

Rory McIlroy has just teed off on the final day at Southern Hills. Here’s a reminder how he got on yesterday:

Rory McIlroy suffers early blow to slip further back at PGA Championship

Tee times to look out for

17:34 , Luke Baker

A few notable tee times coming up soon, including Rory McIlroy. Here’s some to watch:

5:45 PM: Rory McIlroy, Adri Arnaus

6:05 PM: Xander Schauffele, Tommy Fleetwood

6:25 PM: Sam Burns, Gary Woodland

6:35 PM: Lucas Herbert, Max Homa

 (AP)
(AP)

PGA Championship - early movers

17:19 , Luke Baker

While no-one out on the course this early is likely to challenge for the title, they can give an idea of course conditions and what scoring might be like for the leaders later on.

Perhaps pleasingly for Mito Pereira, who defends a three-shot lead, he shouldn’t have anyone haring up from behind with scoring looking tough.

Of the eight men to complete their round so far, only Billy Horschel has shot under par - with a one-under 69.

And of the 50-odd players who’ve started their rounds today, only three are currently at two-under for it - Kevin Streelman (through 15 holes), Harold Varner (thru 6) and Talor Gooch (thru 5). Not good news for those looking to make up ground.

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