Danny Willett’s third round at the BMW PGA Championship included five bogeys, a shank on 17 and plenty of back-and-forth with caddie Jonathan Smart.
But even after a 4-over 76, the Masters champion is just three shots behind leader Scott Hend heading into the final round at the European Tour’s flagship event.
''It’s disappointing to be somewhere there or thereabouts and then to play poor on the back nine like we did yesterday,’' Willett told reporters after his round at Wentworth. ''Off to the range and see if we can get something going for tomorrow.’'
Willett was battling for the lead for most of the day until his round came undone with a back-nine 41. Willett bogeyed Nos. 9, 10 and 11, and then added two more squares on 16 and 17. Willett found a bunker off the tee with an iron at 17, pitched out and caught the hosel with his third that sailed into the gallery right of the green.
Hend was paired with Willett in the final group and had plenty of struggles of his own. But the Aussie eagled 18 for the second straight day to grab a one-shot lead over Willett’s fellow countryman Tyrrell Hatton, who fired an impressive 6-under 66.
''It was a nice bonus,’' Hend told reporters on his eagle. ''I got a lucky bounce, but it was very nice.’'
