McGinley on course for victory

Paul McGinley boosted his hopes of the biggest win of his career today with an early birdie blitz in the final round of the BMW Championship at Wentworth.

The Dubliner had five birdies in the space of six holes from the third for an outward 30, five under par, to go from two behind to one ahead of Angel Cabrera.

The Argentinian, joint overnight leader with Swede Peter Hedblom, birdied the second, bogeyed the next, but then holed from off the green for eagle at the long fourth.

McGinley, who was one outside the course record with his second round 64, was 13 under par, Cabrera 12 under and then came Hedblom on 10 and David Howell and Nick O’Hern on nine.

Colin Montgomerie shot 66 after also covering the front nine in 30, but at joint 13th looked likely to just miss out on the world top 50 spot he needs to earn an exemption into next month’s US Open.

O'Hern set the target at 11 under with a 64, but it looked a two-horse race. Cabrera birdied the 11th from four feet, then both he and McGinley birdied the long 12th.

They were 14 under and three clear.

It was advantage Cabrera again when McGinley went in two bunkers on the 16th as well and this time failed to save par.

The South African scrambled a par on the 15th to remain 14 under and was one ahead of McGinley and three ahead of O’Hern.

Cabrera pounced on McGinley's mistake, rolling in an 18-foot birdie putt on the same hole to go two clear. And the Irishman had by then driven right on the long 17th and could not get anywhere near the green with his second over the trees.