Stunning eagle at 18 puts Rory McIlroy in position for win that would vault him to top of European tour

VIRGINIA WATER, England — A birdie-eagle finish courtesy of a stunning tap-in eagle to finish the third round at the BMW PGA Championship has Rory McIlroy poised to overtake an injured Patrick Reed at the top of the DP World Tour's Race to Dubai.

The reigning Masters champion was languishing early on Day 3 at the famed Wentworth course outside London before he ignited the enormous galleries with a brilliant back nine.

After a birdie at the par-5 12th, McIlroy grabbed another at the par-5 17th that set up his run up the leaderboard. At the iconic par-5 18th, McIlroy rifled a 4-iron from 230 yards over water to tap in distance for eagle.

"It was a perfect 4-iron where I could just hold it into the wind slightly," McIlroy said. "I just needed to stand up and make a good, committed swing, and I did. And obviously a great way to finish the day and keep myself within touching distance of the leaders.

"I think it was a day where you really had to take advantage of the par 5s. They were your scoring opportunities."

You don't say. Playing the three back-nine par 5s in four under allowed McIlroy to salvage a 69 which elevated him to 11 under par. The career grand slam champion sits just two shots behind co-leaders Filippo Celli (69) and Manuel Elvira (68) heading into the final day. Last year's U.S. Open champion J.J. Spaun was among a trio tied for third at 12 under.

"I stayed as patient as I could and feel like that patience was rewarded over the last few holes," McIlroy said. "Good birdie on 12. I always feel like the end of this golf course gives you a chance to salvage maybe a tougher, frustrating day, and I was able to do that with playing those last two holes three under."

With Reed, a two-time winner on the DP World Tour this year, having to withdraw with a wrist injury on Friday, McIlroy has a golden opportunity to leap from his current position of No. 2 and overtake the American's Race to Dubai lead, given the prestigious BMW PGA Championship is worth 9,000 season points. To do so, McIroy needs at least a solo second finish.

But the six-time major winner is gunning for the victory, a second at this event. McIlroy lives within the Wentworth estate when he is in the U.K. and hasn't won the European circuit's flagship tournament since 2014.

Safe to say, there's a lot to play for on Sunday for the Northern Irishman."I have a big opportunity tomorrow on both fronts," McIlroy said. "I'd love to win this tournament again. It's been a long time, 12 years.

“I have so many great memories of Wentworth in general. I came here for the first time as a 10-year-old to watch the World Match Play all the way back in the day. It was always half-term [at school]. I always came with my mum and dad and watched this one. Fast forward, I've won this event, I've played a lot here and we now have a house on the estate as well. This place has a lot of history for me. Hopefully I have a good chance and give myself a real chance at it again."

McIlroy is tied at 11 under with four others, including LIV star Joaquin Niemann and former World No.1 Adam Scott. The Australian is yet to win at Wentworth but has flagged the event as in the top three tournaments outside the majors that he most wants to win.

"Oh, it would be so special," Scott said. "I rate this tournament so highly. I've enjoyed playing here for a lot of years now, and with strong connections to European golf, I would love to etch my name into the history here at Wentworth."

With morning coffees in hand for American TV audiences, the final round of this BMW PGA Championship promises to be up there.