McIlroy surges back into PGA Championship contention with third-round 66 at Aronimink

Rory McIlroy breathed new life into his PGA Championship campaign with a third-round 66 on Saturday at Aronimink Golf Club, hauling himself back into contention after a damaging opening round and reigniting hopes of back-to-back major titles.

The reigning Masters champion, who stumbled to a 74 on Thursday — including four successive bogeys to open his tournament — had kept himself within reach with a bogey-free 67 on Friday. Benefiting from softer conditions and more forgiving pin positions on Saturday, McIlroy mixed six birdies with two bogeys to climb into a share of the clubhouse lead at three under par, level with Xander Schauffele.

The turnaround was a marked contrast to the Northern Irishman's struggles earlier in the week on a course that had attracted considerable criticism from several leading players for the severity of its setup, with thick rough, swirling winds and pin locations widely condemned as excessive through the opening two rounds.

Saturday's calmer weather eased scoring conditions across the field, bringing a cluster of contenders into the picture heading into the final round. Jon Rahm, Justin Thomas and overnight co-leaders Maverick McNealy and Alex Smalley all remained in the hunt as the afternoon groups continued their rounds, while defending champion Scottie Scheffler lurked within striking distance despite being unable to convert a series of birdie opportunities on the greens.

McIlroy's revival has transformed the complexion of the championship, with the world watching to see whether he can complete a remarkable back-to-back major double following his Masters triumph last month.

SportsLigue