Alex Noren played his last three holes four under Saturday to tie for the lead after three rounds at the 2025 BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth Club in Surrey, England.
The 43-year-old Swede, who won this event in 2017, made birdies on Nos. 16 and 17 before hitting his second shot to about 25 feet on the par-5 18th and draining the putt for eagle. He ultimately signed for a 6-under 66 to finish the day at 15 under, tied at the top of the leaderboard with France’s Adrien Saddier.
“I hit some good iron shots. I think my irons have been better than my wedges, and then pretty good off the tee today,” Noren said after his round Saturday. “With the lift, clean and place, it’s really tricky if you’re in the rough. So it helps a lot to hit it a little bit straighter. But it’s been a wonderful three days, a lot of fun out there.”
After suffering a victory drought spanning more than seven years, Noren is looking to secure his second win in three weeks. He held off a stacked field to win the Betfred British Masters by one stroke last month. His most recent victory prior to that came in June 2018.
And he’s certainly enjoying himself while he experiences this career resurgence.
“[Sunday] is going to be so much fun. I love this. I’m going to work a little bit with my coach now and pick out a few shots that I didn’t feel comfortable over and do some putting stuff, and just get prepared for tomorrow with a clear mind what to do. It’s so much fun.”
Along with Saddier, who’s a proven winner himself with a victory at the Italian Open earlier this year, Noren will have to spend Sunday looking over his shoulder at a fiery Englishman who happens to be one of the players in the field gearing up to represent Team Europe in the Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black in two weeks.
Tyrrell Hatton sits in solo third place at 13 under after signing for a bogey-free 64 Saturday, which included a 6-under 31 on the back nine.
“It was a good day’s work,” Hatton said. “Got off to a little bit of a slow start, but the last ten holes were great. Gave myself plenty of opportunities and it’s always nice to see putts going in… I’m excited for tomorrow.”
Hatton on Sunday will be playing with his Ryder Cup teammate, Viktor Hovland, who enters the final round in solo fourth at 12 under, three shots behind the co-leaders. After making three birdies on his first four holes, it seemed as if the tournament might be Hovland’s to lose, but back-to-back bogeys on Nos. 8 and 9 and a double bogey on No. 12 dashed his hopes of pulling away.
“It was a really nice start. I was kind of licking my chops there. Felt like I was somewhat in control of my game and I just kept plugging along. But I’ve been battling my golf swing all year and kind of had to pay the price there at the end of the front nine and particularly the back nine on the 12th hole, making the double bogey there, really stinks. That’s giving up three shots right there. That’s a little disappointing.”
Hovland’s well-document struggles with his swing continue, but he still managed to turn in a 1-under 71 and remain in the mix Sunday.
Hovland was the only player in the final group to come out of the third round still in contention. Hideki Matsuyama, the 36-hole solo leader, signed for a 4-over 76 to finish the day in a tie for 20th at 8 under, while Justin Rose also shot 76 Saturday and sits in a tie for 31st.
Of the 11 European Ryder Cup team members who competed at the BMW PGA Championship this week, nine made the cut, with Rasmus Hojgaard and Robert MacIntyre being the two to miss the weekend. Here’s where the rest of them stand entering Sunday’s final round:
- Tyrrell Hatton (3rd, 13 under)
- Viktor Hovland (4th, 12 under)
- Matt Fitzpatrick (T-6, 10 under)
- Ludvig Aberg (T-6, 10 under)
- Shane Lowry (T-31, 7 under)
- Jon Rahm (T-31, 7 under)
- Justin Rose (T-31, 7 under)
- Rory McIlroy (T-53, 5 under)
- Tommy Fleetwood (T-67, 3 under)
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