Laporta takes BMW PGA Championship lead

Francesco Laporta is in pole position to make his maiden European Tour win a Rolex Series title at the BMW PGA Championship, but the Italian has a bunched leaderboard lining up behind him heading into the final day, with several of them vying for a place on Pádraig Harrington’s European Ryder Cup team.

The 30-year-old carded a three-under 69, which included an eagle at the par five fourth, to move to a 14 under total and edge one ahead of Englishman Laurie Canter, who signed for a two-under 70.
“The last few holes I was like - just be patient and focus shot-by-shot - that was what I was thinking, and I played solid," said Laporta.
“I'm feeling more relaxed. Last week (in Italy) was by far more pressure on me. Anyway, I got my card for sure and I feel more comfortable now and actually, I'm playing better. My goal is just to finish Top-50 (in the Race to Dubai)."
Amongst those a shot further back on 12 under were former FedEx Cup winner Billy Horschel and 2013 Masters Champion Adam Scott, while 2019 Open Champion Shane Lowry and two-time Rolex Series winner Bernd Wiesberger were both on eleven-under-par heading into the final day.

Lowry and Wiesberger are both one low round away from sealing automatic qualification to the Ryder Cup, while Justin Rose would need to come from five strokes back to get the win he requires to move into the automatic qualification spots – the former U.S. Open winner sits on nine under par.
Lee Westwood is also in danger of slipping out of the automatic qualification places for Whistling Straits in two weeks’ time – the former World Number One will be targeting a low final round at Wentworth Club while having one eye on the results of Lowry and Wiesberger.