McIlroy two back as outsiders Celli and Elvira lead at Wentworth
Filippo Celli and Manuel Elvira lead the PGA Championship at Wentworth at 13 under par after 54 holes, with Rory McIlroy two shots behind them going into the final round. The Italian and the Spaniard sit one clear of a three-man chase pack after the third round on 19 September 2026 at Wentworth Golf Club in Virginia Water, England The Guardian.
McIlroy forced his way back into the picture late. He was one over par through 11 holes in his third round before closing with a birdie on the 17th and an eagle, two under par on a single hole, on the 18th for a 69.
That finish left him at 11 under. It was a sharp recovery. He had started the day four shots behind second-round leader Ryan Gerard and ended it only two off the new lead.
Celli and Elvira are unlikely names at the top of this board. Celli was ranked 358th in the world during the week, Elvira 294th. Neither has won at this level before, and now they share the 54-hole lead at one of the DP World Tour's biggest events.
The pressure behind them is immediate. Alejandro del Rey, Johannes Veerman and JJ Spaun are all at 12 under, one shot back. Del Rey and Veerman both shot 64 in the third round, the low rounds of the day, matched by Kristoffer Reitan.
Ludvig Åberg and Robert MacIntyre are next at 10 under, three off the lead. Three shots on this course is nothing. Wentworth's closing stretch, with water in play and the green on 18 reachable in two, can wipe out a lead in minutes.
McIlroy knows that finish better than anyone in the field. He won this championship in 2014, powering home in similar style. He arrived this year having claimed his second Irish Open title at the K Club in September 2025, five months after winning the Masters.
What makes this stand out is the shape of the leaderboard. Two long shots in front, a major champion hunting them down, and five players within three shots. For fans, this means a simple equation on Sunday: McIlroy needs a fast start, the leaders need to hold their nerve, and anyone shooting in the mid-60s can still win it.
