US PGA Set for Super Sunday Showdown

Golf's final major of the season is set for a scintillating final day of action as a host of major players top the standings. 

On a day which saw, at one point, five players holding a share of the lead and a further five just one shot back, Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy emerged clear with a one stroke lead heading into Sunday. McIlroy endured a rocky round with some sloppy short-game errors on the 8th and 12th dragging him back into the rest of the field. At one point eighteen players were within three shots of the lead but the new world number one showed all the steely grit that has earned him three major titles, claiming three birdies over the last four holes to move to -13.

Behind him lie a star-studded line-up of leaderboard-topping veterans but his playing partner on the final day does not yet fall into that category. Austrian Bernt Wiesberger sits just one shot behind McIlroy after a special six under par round today saw him move to well within contention heading into the final day. With only five past major appearances and just one cut made, you would be forgiven for not recognising the Austrian but he has strung together three days of solid golf and will be feeling relaxed in amongst the golfing worlds big boys.

One shot further back is a man we have become all too accustomed to seeing on the final day of majors after two tied second performances and a tied fifth just this year. After an eclectic day of bogeys and birdies on friday, Rickie Fowler will have been pleased to see a squeaky clean scorecard as he finished his round this afternoon. An intelligent round of exploitative golf saw the 25-year-old American birdie all three of the par fives to leave him sitting just two strokes behind McIlroy and with plenty of confidence after seeing the Northern Irishman make a couple of errors today. Set to don his traditional orange attire for the final day, will the future be bright for the American?

These three will have to be on their toes though as lurking on ten under par is the master and the apprentice, Phil Mickelson and Jason Day. 'Lefty' is no stranger to a major title having collected five in his time, and the veteran looks ready to pounce with another US PGA title a very realistic possibility. With a string of four birdies in five holes towards the end of his round yesterday, he put himself well in the hunt for the title. Mickelson has been playing some assured golf around this generous Valhalla course and with the capabilities of his short game, McIlroy, Fowler and Wiesberger will be looking nervously over their shoulder.

Day had a less fruitful day than those around him as he left the course with just a 69 but will be remembered for save-of-the-day after wading, barefoot, through a creek to play his second shot after a wayward drive on the second hole. Remarkably, considering his position, Day parred the hole but will be disappointed with his day on the whole having lost ground to his partner, McIlroy. The Australian certainly has the attributes to challenge though and is another heavyweight on this super Sunday.

There is a mixture of players at -9, just four shots behind the leader. Henrik Stenson is the most recognisable of the four after his fantastic end to last year but Louis Oosthuizen is the sole major winner in this group after his 2010 Open Championship victory. Joining them are American, Ryan Palmer and Finn, Mikko Ilonen who both laboured through Saturday, both shooting 69's, a disappointing score comparable to those around them. At just four behind, they will all think they are still in with a chance and, especially Stenson who is still searching for that maiden major, will pounce on any mistake from the leaders.

Welshman Jamie Donaldson has the Ryder Cup now firmly in his sights after a wonderful 66 seeing him move up to -8 alongside Steve Stricker and Graeme DeLaet but will need an even better round if he is to be in with a chance of claiming his debut major.

It was another day of 'what ifs' for Lee Westwood who shot another four bogeys to go with the two double bogeys he had shot on Thursday and Friday to leave him off the pace at -7. The worst round of the day though went to Jim Furyk among the front runners, who was the sole man in the top 38 not to shoot either even or under par after a one-over-par round, meaning he joins Westwood on -7. Hunter Mahan, Kevin Chappell, Joost Luiten and Adam Scott are also on -7 but will be rank outsiders now at six shots behind.

With Ryder Cup qualification on the mind of many Americans and Europeans, Sunday is set to be a low scoring day for the enture field but all eyes will be on the front runners. McIlroy is in pole position and if recent form is anything to go by, should claim the title. That is far too simple though, and with some wiley old foxes, world-class youngsters and fresh faces all in hot pursuit expect fireworks on the Valhalla course as the major golfing season comes to an explosive finale.