Ludwig Aberg of Sweden secured his second consecutive victory at the BMW PGA Championship in Virginia Water, England. Aberg shot an impressive 6-under 66 in the third round to finish two strokes ahead of Connor Syme and Ryder Cup teammate Tommy Fleetwood. Aberg took control of the tournament early on, with a 5-foot eagle on the par-5 fourth hole and a 35-foot putt on the same hole for birdie. Despite facing challenges, Aberg maintained his composure and finished the round at 16-under.
Aberg, who joined the PGA Tour shortly after completing his senior year at Texas Tech, has been making a name for himself in the golfing world. He reached number one in the rankings, won the European Masters, and earned a spot in the Ryder Cup team. Now, he has the opportunity to win a Rolex series event and break into the top 50 in the world.
Syme had an impressive back nine, securing four birdies and an eagle. However, he had to settle for par on the 17th and 18th holes. Fleetwood also had his moments, hitting a brilliant shot from a fairway bunker on the 12th for a birdie. He nearly closed the gap to one stroke with a birdie on the 17th, but struggled on the 18th hole after his second shot got caught in a tree.
Callum Shinkwin made a remarkable bogey-free 64, putting him within three shots of Aaron Rye and Ryan Fox. Jon Rahm, the Masters champion, started strong with 12 birdies in 21 holes but finished with only two birdies. Rory McIlroy had a solid performance, shooting a 67 and staying within 10 strokes of the lead.
All 12 players from the European Ryder Cup team, including captain Luke Donald, participated in the tournament. Four of them, including Fleetwood, Sepp Straka, and Tyrrell Hatton, are within five strokes of Aberg. Despite facing challenges, Aberg seemed unfazed by the pressure, even with the largest gallery of his professional career. He remained composed, even when facing difficulties such as missed drives and water hazards.
Fleetwood acknowledged the challenging nature of the golf course but managed to have a great round on Saturday. He recovered quickly from an early bogey and made several impressive shots throughout the day. Both Aberg and Fleetwood showcased their skill and resilience during the tournament, leaving the outcome unpredictable until the very end.