The Open Champion shot a two over par round today.
Shane Lowry remains in with a chance of claiming his 6th European Tour win and his first of 2020.
He lies four shots adrift of England's Tyrell Hatton (-14) on 10 under par in a share of fourth place after a steady day three at Wentworth.
It began well for the Clara man, a series of pars before a good approach led to a birdie on the 4th, taking him into top spot on the leaderboard.
Coming off the 8th, he found himself two shots clear as his playing partner faltered but Lowry will rue a blip on the par four ninth.
He found the trees from the tee and had to chip out, then left his 8 iron short on approach and three putted for a double-bogey six.
To his credit he followed back up with back to back par's before birdieing the 12th for the third time this week.
Acorn v @ShaneLowryGolf
— BMW PGA Championship (@BMWPGA) October 10, 2020
1-0 to the Open Champion 👏🏼#BMWPGA #RolexSeries pic.twitter.com/S1RkD2tImg
However it was obvious that the lapse around the turn had affected him. Bogeys on 16 and 18 coming either side of a thirteenth par on 17, dropping him further away from the final pairing and leaving plenty of food for thought overnight.
Events on the final hole in particular will hurt, a poor drive compounded by a fluffed chip in a torrential downpour left him with a ten footer for par which he was unable to hole.
The Clara man wasn't helped by the form of his playing partner Matthew Fitzpatrick who fell away badly, shooting a four over par round as the field closed up on them.
There is cause for optimism as the course has a history of producing come from behind victories on Sunday.
Lowry did play beautifully for eight holes and that is what he and caddy Bo will have to take from a tough day in tough conditions.
Wicklow The First Opponents For Laois In Tailteann Cup
Irish Rail To Provide Extra Services For Leinster Football Final
First Win In Tailteann Cup The Aim For Offaly
Athlone Town Welcome Treaty United To Lissywollen
Leinster SHC: Offaly Set For Big Test At Home To The Cats
Westmeath And Laois To Fight For Leinster Glory
Aoife Dalton To Start For Ireland's Six Nations Clash With Wales
Ronan Deegan Aiming To Maintain Perfect Professional Record In MMA
All Island Cup The Focus For Athlone Town Women This Weekend
Casey O'Gorman Looking For Statement Weekend In Moto3
CCFL: FAI Cup Semi-Final Heartache For Tullamore U17s
Portlaoise To Host Stage One Start Of 2026 Rás Tailteann
Stephen Duff Relieved Of His Duties As Laois Ladies Football Manager
Heavy Defeats For Offaly And Westmeath In Minor Football Championship
Laois And Offaly Suffer Defeats In Leinster U20 Hurling Championship
Leinster Semi-Final Place On The Line For Midlands Side's
Alex Dunne Forced Out Of Miami F2 Race Following Crash
Athlone Continue Unbeaten Run In First Division
Westmeath Ladies Book Leinster Final Spot
Leinster SFC: Westmeath Earn Final Place With Victory Over Kildare