Eighteen holes stand between Rory McIlroy and a significant piece of golfing history as he pursues a second PGA Championship title at Wentworth. Having previously won the Masters five months earlier, McIlroy aims to add another prestigious trophy to his collection, echoing his 2014 triumph at the same venue.

As he prepares for the final round, McIlroy finds himself two shots behind surprising leaders Filippo Celli and Manuel Elvira, ranked 358th and 294th in the world, respectively. Both players impressively reached 13 under par after birdies on the last hole.

Chasing them closely are Alejandro del Rey, Johannes Veerman, and JJ Spaun, all at 12 under. Spaun, motivated after being left out of the United States Presidents Cup team, joins del Rey and Veerman, who both shot a remarkable 64 in the third round. McIlroy, starting the day slowly, managed to finish strong, closing with an eagle after a challenging round that saw him sign for a 69.

Reflecting on his experience, McIlroy expressed his deep connection to Wentworth, stating, "This is a tournament that means a lot to me... I have a lot of history here, a 27-year history."

Despite facing tough conditions, McIlroy recognized the importance of patience, which ultimately paid off on the last holes. The atmosphere at Wentworth remains electric, with McIlroy noting that the galleries have been incredibly supportive, emphasizing, "Great tournaments need great crowds."

Furthermore, a strong finish could see McIlroy surpass Patrick Reed in the DP World Tour order of merit. However, with other contenders like Ludvig Åberg and Robert MacIntyre lurking at 10 under, the final round promises to be unpredictable.