Tranlate this title Rory McIlroy shares Harry Diamond message that helped him at Wentworth in spanish

Rory McIlroy has revealed the message Harry Diamond gave him when his third round at the BMW PGA Championship looked in danger of getting away from him.

The Northern Irishman was one over par through 11 holes at Wentworth on Saturday and had not been able to make the move he wanted.

McIlroy was still close enough to the leaders, although he needed something much better over the closing stretch.

Diamond did not want his player to become frustrated. McIlroy’s long-time caddie reminded him that the final part of the West Course could give him a lot of chances because three par fives were still to be played.

“Yeah, I was one over through 11 today, and Harry said to me, we can definitely play these last few holes in 5-under, the three par 5s, and then everything else coming in, 13, 14, 15, 16 are all downwind,” McIlroy said.

“You’re hitting wedges, and I had a good opportunity at 16 that I didn’t take. So like there are opportunities coming in. That first sort of 10 or 11 holes are very tough, as we’ve seen the leaders struggle with today.

But yeah, I think that’s what makes this golf tournament so exciting is going into the back nine tomorrow, sort of anything can happen. Even if you’re three or four back, you still feel like you have a decent chance.”

McIlroy ended up following Diamond’s message almost exactly. He birdied the 17th and then hit a 4-iron from around 230 yards to inside two feet on the par-five 18th. The easy eagle gave him a 69 and moved him to 11 under.

Diamond’s words helped McIlroy stay in the tournament

The finish put McIlroy only two shots behind joint leaders Manuel Elvira and Filippo Celli before Sunday’s final round. J.J. Spaun, Alejandro del Rey and Johannes Veerman were one shot behind the leaders.

It was another example of the relationship between McIlroy and Diamond. They have been friends since childhood and Diamond became his full-time caddie in 2017.

The decision has sometimes been questioned from outside, although McIlroy has repeatedly defended his friend and stressed the value of having someone beside him who knows his game and personality very well.

Saturday was a simple example. Diamond did not give a complicated technical message when McIlroy was one over for the round. He simply reminded the six-time major champion how many scoring chances were still left.

McIlroy also nearly chipped in for eagle at the 12th. He could not take every chance that followed, but the birdie-eagle finish changed his position on the leaderboard.

“I feel like I’ve given myself a real opportunity tomorrow,” McIlroy said after the round.

The 37-year-old also had another reason to want a good week at Wentworth. McIlroy won the BMW PGA Championship in 2014 and now has a home close to the course.

He also entered the week chasing Patrick Reed in the Race to Dubai. Reed withdrew from the event because of injury, giving McIlroy an opportunity to reduce the gap in the season-long standings.

McIlroy had his chances on Sunday

McIlroy said after Saturday that he did not plan to watch the leaderboards too much during the opening nine holes of the final round.

“Probably one of those days where you need to set a score for yourself or set a target for the front nine, and then as you enter the back nine, see where you stand and see what you need to do,” he said.

“I’ll probably try not to look at the leaderboards on the front nine, and if I need to play a little bit more aggressive on the back, I’ll do it.”

He remained in the fight throughout Sunday and briefly shared the lead at 15 under. However, McIlroy could not find the birdie he needed at the last after driving into a bunker.

Spaun finished much faster. The American birdied the 14th, 15th and 16th before another birdie at the 18th gave him a closing 67 and a total of 17 under.

McIlroy shot 68 and finished tied for second on 15 under alongside Adam Scott, Aaron Rai and Elvira. It was his best result since winning the Masters earlier this season.

“I had my chances out there,” McIlroy said after the final round. “Wish I had some of those putts back, but I have to be encouraged with where my game is at.”

The result also helped McIlroy close some of the gap to Reed in the Race to Dubai, where he is trying to take an eighth season-long title and equal Colin Montgomerie’s record.

McIlroy’s next planned DP World Tour appearance is in India before the final events in Abu Dhabi and Dubai later in the season.