'Amazing' - Former Shropshire & Herefordshire star Aaron Rai in the mix in US PGA Championship final day (cloned)
The Wolverhampton star is in contention.
Aaron Rai is in the mix for top spot on the final day of the US PGA Championship as he hunts a first major success.
The 31-year-old is tied for second ahead of the fourth and final round of the showpiece, held in Pennsylvania at Aronimink Golf Club.
Rai, from Wolverhampton, is one of five players tied for second and two shots off the lead on four under par.
American Alex Smalley broke out into an overnight lead of six under after a third round 67.
A tight pack sees 10 players within three shots at the summit ahead of Sunday evening’s action, with a dramatic finale ahead.
Rai shot a three under round of 67 on Saturday. A red-hot start included three birdies in the first six holes, as well as a bogey on four.
He gained another shot at the ninth before a brilliant start to the back nine, where the former Shropshire & Herefordshire junior made it three in a row with back-to-back birdies on 10 and 11.
Rai struck par until the 18th, where he dropped a shot to card three under for the day and four under overall.
It added to rounds of 70 and 69 for the Englishman.
Rai said: “A lot of things can and will change on Sunday. So it’s amazing to be here, but I’m trying not to get too far ahead of myself.
“It’s an extremely testing course, so I think it demands a lot of presence, a lot of patience, a lot of clarity. I’m trying my best to really stick in there and take what comes.
“But I really enjoyed it over the last couple of days, especially over the last hole today (Saturday).
“It’s a great situation to be in. It’s a great golf course to challenge myself in.”
Rai’s best majors finishes have been three tied for 19th, in last year’s edition of the PGA Championship, the 2024 US Open and The Open in 2021.
Joining Rai tied second is German Matti Shmid, Canada’s Nick Taylor, Spanish star Jon Rahm and Ludvig Aberg of Sweden.
Some huge names sit a shot further back including back-to-back Masters champion Rory McIlroy, 2024 PGA king Xander Schauffele and former Masters winner Patrick Reid.
Leader Smalley, 29, birdied four of the last six holes to shoot into top spot despite dropping a shot on the 17th.
Rai tees off for his final round at 7.15pm GMT on Sunday.
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