Bjorn Separates Himself from Field in BMW PGA Championship


Thomas Bjorn took control of the BMW PGA Championship after firing a 5-under 67 Saturday. The 43-year-old Dane moved to 15-under 201, five strokes ahead of Luke Donald in the European Tour major at Wentworth Club in Surrey, England.

After a double-bogey on the par-4 first followed by another bogey on the par-3 fifth, Bjorn settled down. He birdied the sixth to make the turn in 2-over 37. On the home half, the 15-time European Tour winner got downright torrid, posting seven birdies to finish with a 67.

"I had a terrible start with some poor decisions but I settled myself down and knew I could play this back nine pretty well," Bjorn told reporters. "I got the momentum and kept it going. I'm in strong position going into (Sunday) but the job is not done yet.

"There is a lot of golf to play and I know there are top guys just behind me who can shoot very low as well. So I have to maintain my concentration and form to the end."

Donald carded a 68 to get to 10-under 206, while Ireland's Shane Lowry, who began the third round tied for the lead with Bjorn, posted a 73 to drop into third at 9-under. Sharing fourth at 8-under are The Netherlands' Joost Luiten of (67) and Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy (69).

McIlroy knows he'll have to be red-hot Sunday while also getting some help from Bjorn. "I've had big leads and let them slip, and come from behind and won, so there's a lot of ways to win," said the 25-year-old. "There is still 18 holes of golf to go, but I'm going to need something very special.

"I would have to shoot ridiculously low (Sunday) to have any realistic chance, but even then Thomas is so far ahead."

Eight behind is Spain's Pablo Larrazabal (69), while nine back are Francesco Molinari (65), Anthony Wall (67), Eddie Pepperell (68), Jamie Donaldson (68), Chris Doak (69), Thomas Aiken (70), Andy Sullivan (69) and Henrik Stenson (71).

For all the scores, visit http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2014/tournamentid=2014040/leaderboard/index.html.