Rory McIlroy regained the world No.1 spot for the first time since 2020 after the 33-year-old successfully defended the PGA Tour’s CJ Cup in South Carolina.

Leading by one at the start of the final round at Congaree Golf Club, McIlroy carded a brilliant four-under 67, with four birdies in a five-hole stretch on his back nine helping him pull clear of the chasing pack.

Playing the 17th hole with a three-shot lead, McIlroy had the luxury of being able him to drop shots at both the final two holes and still finish one clear of playing partner Kurt Kitayama, with KH Lee claiming third spot ahead of Jon Rahm and Tommy Fleetwood, with the latter closing with a 65.

McIlroy’s third win of the year, and 23rd PGA Tour title of his career, sees him become the first FedEx Cup champion to begin his PGA Tour season with a victory since Tiger Woods in 2008, with his latest success taking him above Scottie Scheffler at the top of the world rankings.

Speaking straight after the final round, a visibly emotional McIlroy said: “It feels great to go out there with a lead, shoot a great score, play really well, and get the win. It’s an awesome way to start the season. I feel like it has been a continuation of how I feel like I’ve been playing over the last few months.

“I’ve worked so hard over the last 12 months to get myself back to this place. I feel like I’m enjoying the game as much as I ever have. I absolutely love the game of golf and I think that when I go out there and I play with that joy, it’s definitely showed over these last 12 months.”

McIlroy’s next scheduled appearance is at the season-ending DP World Tour Championship in Dubai, from November 17-20, where he will have a chance to win his fourth Race to Dubai title.

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The Scandinavian pairing of Viktor Hovland and Søren Kjeldsen share a one-stroke lead at the BMW PGA Championship, with Wentworth set for a thrilling third and final round in front of packed galleries.

The tournament has been reduced to 54 holes after play was suspended on Thursday evening following the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, with the second round resuming on Saturday morning. A two-minute silence was observed at Wentworth Club at 9.50am.

Denmark’s Kjeldsen set the early clubhouse target of 12 under par as he took advantage of the conditions to card an eight under par 64, with Hovland, of Norway, joining him on that number with a four under par 68.

Rory McIlroy will lead the final round charge, sitting one stroke back after carding a seven-under-par 65. He is joined in a share of third by Rafa Cabrera Bello and Thomas Detry. One stroke further back on ten under par, in a share of sixth, are Shane Lowry, Francesco Molinari, Matthew Jordan, Adrian Otaegui and Talor Gooch. Gooch is the highest placed LIV golfer on the leaderboard, while Ian Poulter, who is also a member of LIV Golf, is sitting one shot further back in tied 11th.

Hovland said: “My irons have been really good this week. I think I’ve only missed a handful of greens over the two rounds, and that obviously alleviates a lot of pressure. I still I feel like I haven’t driven it the best. but I keep giving myself looks, but I haven’t made too many putts. I played here in 2019 shortly after I turned pro and I was kind of a little overawed by the experience, but I’ve got a chance to do something tomorrow. So it would be awesome to win.

McIlroy, whose second round was kickstarted by an eagle at the fifth and ended with birdies at 17 and 18, said: “I finished the season in the States off on a real high, and I want to do the same over here. I’ve got a great chance tomorrow to win this prestigious event, but also to extend the lead in the Race to Dubai rankings, and then we’ll go to Italy and try and do it all over again.

“I’ve always liked this tournament, even though I won the event when it was played in May, it was very soft, but once the dates changed to September, I liked it more. It’s a little like The Players Championship in the States, I like the date change from May. It’s a little softer and I can play the game that I want to play a little bit more.”

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