Lowry in his element on the Burma Road

Shane Lowry drives on the 15th in the third round of the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth. Picture: Fran Caffrey/www.golffile.ieShane Lowry could leap from 79th to 34th with victory in the BMW PGA Championship but while the Offaly man is more than capable, enjoying his golf and feeding off the atmosphere could be key at Wentworth on Sunday.

The 26-year old from Clara produced another wonderful round at the West Course, erasing an early bogey at the third with birdies at the sixth, seventh, 12th and 17th before saving a fine par at the last for a 69 that leaves him solo fifth on six under, just three strokes behind Spain’s Alejandro Cañizares.

“I said yesterday, if I could post something in the 60s I’d be happy enough and I birdied 17th and made a great par at the last so I’m happy enough,” Lowry told European Tour Radio.

Shane Lowry smiles during the third round. Picture: Fran Caffrey/www.golffile.ie“It was lovely put there today. The sun is shining, the course is in great condition, the crowds are out in force and it was really enjoyable. And I threw a few birdies at it as well, so I’m happpy enough.”

After the wintry weather of Thursday and Friday, Lowry’s love to the course shone through as brightly as the sunshine as he put himself in with a chance of a third European Tour win and his second as a professional.

Loving his job is key to his mood and Wentworth suits him.

“It’s far nicer to play in this - short sleeves and just cruising around in nice weather and not too much of a breeze. It’s not that the golf course plays easy, it’s playing quite tough, but it’s nice.

“I do [look at leaderboards]. I had a few glances today. It was looking quite close on 18 when I got up there. If I made par, it gave me a later tee time and an extra 20 minutes in bed. I’ll be looking at them even close tomorrow.

“Just two shots back from Lee and he’s going to be very difficult to beat. I’ll do my best anyway. To be able to play this golf course and this championship, it’s great.

“It’s an honour really to be playing here. I followed it as a kid  and I love coming back here every year.”

Westwood looked likely to lead before 30-year old Cañizares birdied both of Wentworth Club’s famous closing par fives to take a one shot lead him into the final round.

The Spaniard’s father José Maria, the four-time Ryder Cup player, finished in the top ten four times at Wentworth, but Alejandro will now be hoping to become the first Spaniard since Miguel Angel Jiménez in 2008 to win European Tour’s flagship event.

He recovered from bogeys on the 13th and 15th holes to finish his round with back-to-back birdies on the 17th and 18th holes of the West Course, signing for a 68 to move to nine under par for the Championship.

He will have Westwood for company in the final group after the former World Number One eagled the fourth hole en route to a five under par 67, but Cañizares vowed to enjoy his final round showdown with one of Europe’s Ryder Cup stars.

Alejandro Cañizares plays to the 18th at Wentworth. Picture © Getty Images“I’m sure I’m going to be nervous,” he said.  “I’m sure I’m going to be more nervous than Lee Westwood.

“It’s a pleasure to be there.  I did not expect it but obviously it’s a great opportunity to be able to play with Lee Westwood, and I’ve done it a few times before so I know how it is.  I’m just going to try to enjoy it and play my golf, be focused on every shot, be focused on my game, and see what happens.”

Westwood’s recent hard work on his short game appears to be paying off, and the 40 year old is eager to go one better than two years ago when he lost in a play-off to Luke Donald.

“It was one of the most fun days I’ve ever had on the golf course I think,” he said. “The crowds have always been good when I played in England but it felt like a lot of support today.”

Italian Matteo Manassero, who is 20 years younger than Westwood and ten years younger than Cañizares, shares third position on seven under par with Scotland’s Marc Warren after rounds of 69 and 70 respectively.

Lowry will partner Pablo Larrazábal in the final round with the Spaniard’s 67 leaving him in a eight way tie for sixth with the likes of Sergio Garcia (68) and Francesco Molinari (73) on five under.

Darren Clarke (72) and Paul McGinley (70) share 39th spot on level par with Damien McGrane (72) tied 46th on two over.

Dubliner Peter Lawrie had an eagle two at the 15th in a 72 to lie joint 56th on two over

Third round scores

207 A Cañizares  (Esp) 69 70 68,

208 L Westwood (Eng) 70 71 67,

209 M Warren (Sco) 69 70 70, M Manassero (Ita) 69 71 69,

210 S Lowry  (Irl) 70 71 69,

211 F Molinari (Ita) 70 68 73, P Larrazábal (Esp) 71 73 67, S Garcia  (Esp) 72 71 68, E Pepperell (Eng) 71 69 71, L Slattery (Eng) 71 71 69, R Bland (Eng) 71 71 69, E Molinari  (Ita) 71 71 69, M Foster (Eng) 70 69 72,

212 A Quiros  (Esp) 70 73 69, J Kingston (RSA) 66 77 69, R Ramsay  (Sco) 71 75 66, M Jiménez (Esp) 76 69 67, S Khan (Eng) 69 72 71, G Havret  (Fra) 70 71 71, P Price (Wal) 73 69 70,

213 T Fleetwood  (Eng) 71 74 68, P Uihlein  (USA) 72 73 68, G Storm  (Eng) 73 71 69, N Fasth (Swe) 70 71 72, E Els (RSA) 72 69 72, D Drysdale (Sco) 71 73 69, M Ilonen  (Fin) 67 76 70, R Fisher (Eng) 72 73 68, G Hutcheon (Sco) 72 74 67,

214 G Coetzee (RSA) 69 70 75, G Bourdy (Fra) 71 73 70, B Wiesberger  (Aut) 73 71 70,

215 B Grace  (RSA) 71 73 71, R Jacquelin (Fra) 71 71 73, W Liang (Chn) 75 68 72, J Rose (Eng) 72 74 69, N Colsaerts  (Bel) 72 70 73, J Levermore (Eng) 72 70 73,

216 R Sterne  (RSA) 71 74 71, D Clarke (Nir) 74 70 72, A Noren  (Swe) 74 71 71, S Kjeldsen (Den) 74 72 70, F Zanotti (Par) 71 75 70, T Levet (Fra) 71 75 70, P McGinley (Irl) 71 75 70,

217 T Jaidee (Tha) 74 71 72, M Siem  (Ger) 75 71 71, M Kaymer (Ger) 70 74 73, G Fdez-Castaño  (Esp) 68 75 74, J Kruger (RSA) 71 74 72, G Mulroy (RSA) 74 71 72, D McGrane (Irl) 72 73 72, J Van Zyl (RSA) 75 69 73, A Hansen (Den) 70 74 73, C Doak (Sco) 74 71 72,

218 G Lockerbie  (Eng) 71 74 73, O Fisher  (Eng) 70 75 73, P Lawrie (Irl) 74 72 72, C Montgomerie  (Sco) 71 75 72, B Rumford (Aus) 75 71 72, D Willett  (Eng) 73 72 73, A Tadini (Ita) 73 71 74, T Björn (Den) 69 74 75,

219 J Donaldson (Wal) 71 75 73, A Dodt (Aus) 75 71 73, J Sandelin (Swe) 76 69 74,

220 S Drummond (Sco) 70 75 75,

221 R Santos  (Por) 73 72 76, R Coles (Eng) 75 71 75,

224 J Olazábal (Esp) 75 71 78, J Quesne  (Fra) 71 75 78