US PGA Championship: Rory McIlroy happy defending a one-shot lead at Valhalla
Sunday 10 August 2014 12:10, UK
World No 1 Rory McIlroy has no qualms defending his one-shot lead heading into Sunday’s final round of the PGA Championship at Valhalla.
The Northern Irishman birdied three of the last four holes to fire a third-round 67 on Saturday and grab a one-stroke lead over Austrian Bernd Wiesberger after 54 holes in Louisville, Kentucky.
McIlroy carried a six-shot lead into the final round at Hoylake en route to winning the British Open last month, however, he still prefers to be the man to beat.
"I would rather be the guy that's being chased and have that shot advantage than not,” said McIlroy.
“Standing on the first tee (on Sunday) is going to feel different than how it felt a month ago at Hoylake, because it is going to be a shootout.
Birdies
"You know the conditions are soft. Guys are going to make birdies and you know that you're going to have to make birdies, as well to try and win."
There are 11 rivals within five shots of the lead and McIlroy know nothing less than his best on Sunday will be enough to ensure he collects yet another trophy.
"I didn't have my best stuff for some of that round," he continued. "There were stretches of golf in that round that felt really good. I finished well but the middle of the round was pretty scrappy.
"But saying that, there was only two bogeys. I scrambled well. But yeah, the last two days, it has not been quite as good as I can be.
“If everything does click tomorrow, then obviously I feel like there's a very low score in me. I'll take sort of scrapping it around in 67 if it puts me in this position again.”
