Saturday 27 May 2017 18:17, UK
Shane Lowry is relishing the prospect of being in contention at a big tournament again after a change of fortune at the BMW PGA Championship.
The Irishman has struggled for form in 2017 and has slipped down the world rankings, having not registered a worldwide top-10 since finishing joint runner-up at last year's US Open.
Lowry posted a two-under 70 in breezy conditions at Wentworth to head in to the final round within four strokes of leader Andrew Dodt.
The world No 76 reached the turn over par but bounced back with an eagle-three at the 12th, before closing the gap on Dodt with a penultimate hole-gain.
"I feel like I'm going to have a chance going into tomorrow," Lowry said. "Par or better today is a very good score, so I'm very happy with two under.
"The wind is extremely difficult to judge out there. It's quite strong and this golf course, even in perfect conditions, is very tough.
"I'm going to be lying in the top-10 (heading in to Sunday) and out in the last few groups, which is always where you want to be - especially in tournaments like this."
Henrik Stenson concurred with Lowry's assessment of the conditions after the Swede carded a one-over 73 to lie four shots behind the leader on four under par.
The Open champion littered his card with three bogeys in an outward 39, although he finally picked up a birdie at the 12th and added another at the 17th to improve his chances of a first victory since lifting his maiden major title at Royal Troon.
"It was a battle, it was tough conditions and I didn't get off to a good start," said the Swede. "Played pretty poorly in the beginning and hit a couple wayward shots, and you're paying the price in these conditions.
"With the firm greens being new, it's hard to get up-and-down when you're out of position. That was the case early on, but I was hanging in there battling pretty good and got a few back coming home."
