Rory McIlroy was thrilled to have "climbed his way out of a hole" and believes he can still challenge for the PGA Championship title on Sunday.

McIlroy had set the clubhouse target early in the third round with a four-under 66, mixing six birdies with two bogeys on Saturday.

But he heads into the final day three shots behind leader Alex Smalley (six-under), and one behind the chasing pack, which includes Jon Rahm and Ludvig Aberg, on four-under.

The Northern Irishman is one of four players on three-under, along with Xander Schauffele, Patrick Reed and Ben Griffin.

McIlroy, who is looking to become the first player since Jordan Spieth in 2015 to win back-to-back major titles, having won The Masters last month, had been off the pace in the early rounds.

He was seven strokes back after a four-bogey finish on Thursday, and five behind at the halfway stage, despite making up ground with a second-round 67. Now, though, he remains firmly in place to mount a serious challenge.

"I had a really bad finish on Thursday, but at the end of the day, I was only seven back," McIlroy said.

"I thought back to last year's Masters [where he won] – I was seven back after the first day, and I was two ahead going into the final day.

"There's a lot of golf and a lot of things can happen during the course of a golf tournament. I've progressively just got a little bit closer to the lead each day.

"We'll see what happens, but I've climbed my way out of that hole a little bit. I'm proud of myself for doing that, but there's one more day left, and I feel like, if I can – depending on what the guys do – be close enough to the lead, I feel like I've still got a good chance."

It's not about how you start ...@McIlroyRory leaps into contention on Moving Day @PGAChampionship. pic.twitter.com/BBzutvwzik

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) May 16, 2026

World number one Scottie Scheffler, meanwhile, is tied in 31st place, five shots back from the leader with one round left to play.

The American shot a one-over 71 in the third round, having missed numerous short putts, but could still mount a surprise late surge, given the congested nature of the leaderboard.

"It's quite literally anybody's tournament," he said. "A lot of guys have a chance.

"Somebody is going to have a great round, and I'm going to give myself my best shot at being the one."