Golf

Thomas Bjorn hits hot streak to go five clear at Wentworth

Shane Lowry is six strokes back after Dane cards seven birdies in closing eight holes

Ireland’s Shane Lowry with Denmark’s Thomas Bjorn during day three of the BMW PGA Championships at Wentworth. Photograph: Adam Davy/PA
Ireland’s Shane Lowry with Denmark’s Thomas Bjorn during day three of the BMW PGA Championships at Wentworth. Photograph: Adam Davy/PA
Philip Reid at Wentworth
Sat May 24 2014 - 20:05

He might have preferred otherwise, but Shane Lowry was given a front row seat to a quite remarkable putting show from Thomas Bjorn as the great Dane took control of the BMW PGA Championship on the West Course in Saturday's third round.

On a day when the 27-year-old Offalyman couldn't buy a putt, Bjorn reeled off six birdies in a row from the 11th hole and, after edging the cup on the 17th, he then finished off a wonderful putting performance with a birdie on the 18th – his seventh in eight holes – for a third round 67 for 201, 15-under-par, that gave the Danish player a five-shot lead over Luke Donald heading into the final round.

Lowry had started out with the intention of avoiding the leaderboards but was thrust straight into the lead on the first hole where his par to Bjorn’s double-bogey gave him a two-shot lead. He never fully got into the flow thereafter.

“I just felt a bit flat out there, it was tough . . . I haven’t been there (in that position) for a while,” said Lowry, who shot a 73 for 207, nine-under-par, which left him alone in third place.

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“He’s six ahead of me going into (the final round) but on this course, anything can happen. Hopefully I can get off to a good start. I just have to go and see what I can do. It would be nice to contend and to give myself a chance going into the back nine,” said Lowry, who was given a first hand experience of how fortunes could change as Bjorn overcame a shaky start to turn on the style with a sizzling 30 on his back nine that transformed his round.

Lowry admitted things could have been “a lot worse,” adding: “I didn’t play great, hit some poor drives. I just didn’t feel comfortable. My alignment felt a bit off and I just didn’t feel that comfortable, it’s as simple as that.”

Rory McIlroy shot a 69 for 208 to move into a share of fourth place and set for his ninth top-10 in 11 strokeplay appearances this season.

But the Northern Irishman has set his sights higher that that, believing that Bjorn isn’t out of sight just yet.

“Look, I’ve had big leads and let them slip, and come from behind and won. There’s a lot of ways to win. Eighteen holes of golf is still a long way to go, but I’m going to need something very special, maybe something similar to what Thomas did the first day. But if the condition are favourable, then you never know what can happen,” said McIlroy.