Dodt masters windy Wentworth

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Andrew Dodt emerged from a testing day at the BMW PGA Championship as the third-round leader thanks to an impressive four-under-par 68.

The Australian is a two-time winner on the European Tour but victory on Sunday would be the biggest of his career by some margin.

While conditions were fairly benign for the opening two rounds, increased gusts made the West Course a much tougher proposition.

Dodt thrived under the pressure, playing his first seven holes in one over par but picking up five birdies in a flawless performance from there to rocket up the leaderboard.

He leads South African Branden Grace by one shot heading into the final round.

“The last seven holes were a little bit easier playing downwind compared to the first two days,” he said afterwards. “But you’ve still got to hit the shots and I managed to do that today.”

Looking ahead to the final round, Dodt said: “It’s going to be tough out there. There will be a lot of nerves.

“I’ve just got to do what I’ve been doing the last three days. If I can do that I can give myself a chance.”

Grace made four birdies during a five-hole stretch from the 10th on the way to a two-under 70.

In a tie for third are Italy’s Francesco Molinari and Lee Westwood, who had the Wentworth crowds cheering as he closed with three straight birdies to give himself a chance of a first victory in over two years.

The Englishman was three over par for the day when he reached the turn, but produced a grandstand finish to keep himself in the hunt.

Swede Henrik Stenson has work to do after being forced to settle for a 73. He’s four shots back alongside Hideto Tanihara and Shane Lowry.

Overnight leaders Thomas Pieters and Scott Jamieson both fell off the pace with rounds of 76 and 78 respectively.

Jamieson is five shots off the lead alongside Ross Fisher, Tyrrell Hatton, Andrew ‘Beef’ Johnston, Graeme Storm, Kiradech Aphibarnrat, Bradley Dredge and Maximilian Kieffer.

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