US PGA Championship: Rory McIlroy is looking forward to Sunday after a 67
Rory McIlroy believes he is right back in the mix after a third round 67 took him to three under par for the US PGA.
Last Updated: 12/08/13 12:36am
The defending champion was on the way home before rescuing his second round with four late birdies, and he continued that form by hanging in there on a difficult third day before finishing his round with two unlikely and spectacular birdies.
"I probably made up at least three, three and a half shots on those last two holes," said McIlroy, who holed a bomb at 17 and then chipped in at 18. "It's getting there. It was good to feel the sort of rush again.
"I felt it a bit in San Antonio this year (where he finished second to Martin Laird). Making a birdie on 17 is like an eagle and then to follow it up with another on the last is even better.
"I knew they were going to toughen the golf course up today. I sort of thought two 65s would still have a chance, 10 under par. But the way the conditions are with the swirling wind, it's tricky out there. I felt like I still had a chance.
"Every time I'm in that position I just think back to Quail Hollow a few years ago and what I did on the weekend there (winning with rounds of 66 and 62). It gives me a bit confidence knowing that I've been in that position before and I've been able to win.
"I know this is a major championship and it's a bit different, but I felt good enough about my game that I could go out there and post a good one today and at least give myself a chance going into tomorrow."
Lee Westwood is also on three under par after a round of 68 and it left him ruing his poor finish on Friday when he dropped three shots in the last two holes.
"All in all it was very good," he said. "I figured somewhere around 67 might give me a chance going into tomorrow.
"My game has been great all week other than a poor finish yesterday, which you can't really afford to do in major championships, give shots away like that.
"I'm definitely hitting the ball better than I was at Muirfield. Obviously I didn't putt as well as I did at Muirfield this week, but another Sunday and another chance."