“Incredible”: Matteo Manassero takes the lead and moves into the final round of the PGA Championship | European Tour

If it weren't for his own urge, Rory McIlroy would be cheering on Matteo Manassero here on the final day.

In the 11 years since Manassero's PGA Championship victory, he suffered a slump that left him ranked 1,805th in the world and on the mini-tours.

The former teenage superstar and then-youngest player to make the cut at the Masters experienced the sharpest decline after a ruinous attempt to expand his repertoire.

The Italian's subsequent resurgence culminated in victory on the DP World Tour in South Africa in March. Manassero's three-shot lead with 18 holes to play in Surrey means he is just a stone's throw away from the most significant victory of his incredible career.

McIlroy came very close when Manassero shot 63 in his third round to finish 18 under par. McIlroy and Billy Horschel are lurking at minus 15. The DP World Tour's flagship event is once again delivering what it promises.

“It's unbelievable,” McIlroy said of Manassero. “I don't think you'd find a player on tour who wouldn't be so happy for him.”

“To be a young phenomenon, then to lose your game and then to play in the Alps Tour… that’s the character you need.

“It's incredible to see. I was really impressed when I played with him in Scotland in July and last week in the finals together; again this week. It's really great to see. He's such a nice guy, level-headed and it's nice to see him back where he belongs.”

McIlroy, however, is highly motivated himself. Last weekend, spectators at the Irish Open witnessed the four-time major winner come very close to glory once again. By his own admission, he was a near winner for most of 2024.

“I haven't won since May, but I've given myself a lot of chances,” he said. “I'm in it, but that doesn't mean it's necessarily going to happen. I've always liked being in this position, a few laps down, trying to get going quickly. Hopefully I can do that and put pressure on from the start.”

“That's always the case in my career. I have setbacks, but I usually come back pretty well. Some are harder than others, but in this game you have to persevere. You have to understand and realise that you're going to lose a lot more than you win, and you have to deal with it and accept that.

“I was definitely on the accepting side this year, but it’s good to be back.

“The crowds were absolutely incredible. I remember coming here when I was 11 or 12 to watch the World Match Play and follow all my heroes from back then. Wentworth is a special place for me and I'm really happy to give myself another chance here.”

Manassero made birdies on his last three holes and six of his last eight. “This is one of the best rounds I've ever played,” he said.

“I have a better perspective on golf and being at the top of the leaderboard, but it's not as comfortable. It's not easy to compete at such a high level in difficult conditions. It's not the ideal comfort zone, but that's what we're working for. That's what we're trying to achieve.”

Next year’s Ryder Cup in New York is suddenly an absolutely legitimate goal.

McIlroy, trying to keep pace with the leader, hit the water with his second shot on the 18th hole but saved par. On a low-scoring afternoon, McIlroy's 66 was bested by Horschel by one point. The top three players on the leaderboard are all former champions here. Matthew Baldwin is 14 under par after 54 holes, one point ahead of Thriston Lawrence and Antoine Rozner.