Key occasions
Seven-shot leads, then. If the King can ship one, with 9 holes to go on the 1966 US Open, then you definately might be certain Scottie isn’t taking any liberties simply but.
Matt Fitzpatrick rolls in a 25-footer for birdie on 5. No celebration. He wears the expression of a person who is aware of the jig is already up. He returns to -9, as does his enjoying accomplice Rory McIlroy, who can be maintaining issues in perspective. And but there’s a small bounce in his stroll as he departs for the subsequent tee. You’ve seen that bounce earlier than. Tail up. He’s seven again, however received’t be giving this up simply but. The gang roar him alongside, betraying a sliver of renewed perception.
If … no, let’s get actual … when Scottie Scheffler wins this Open, he’ll be a part of an elite membership of gamers to win the Masters Event, the PGA Championship and the Open Championship earlier than the age of 30. The opposite three? Gary Participant, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods. That’s some firm to be maintaining. Scottie doesn’t look a person misplaced.
Haotong Li drops one other shot, the results of discovering a fairway bunker at 4. However it’s one other birdie for Scottie Scheffler, whose drive in some way evades the traps. He takes full benefit of the break, and sends his method from 172 yards to seven toes. He walks within the putt, and that is throughout. What an imposing show that is. What an imposing participant he’s.
-16: Scheffler (4)
-9: English (5), Gotterup (5), Li (4)
-8: Fowler (F), DeChambeau (17), N Højgaard (7), Schauffele (6), McIlroy (4), Fitzpatrick (4)
Hideki Matsuyama bounces again from bogey at 13 with birdie at 15 … then palms the shot again once more at 16. He’s -7 and operating out of steam a bit bit after that earlier six-birdie blast.
Fowler playing cards 65
Rickie Fowler ought to have a serious to his title. However one other 12 months goes by with out the favored Californian nabbing a giant one. He finally ends up with three birdies in a row, although, and he’s again in 30 strokes, one off the Open file matched yesterday by Lee Westwood. A valedictory spherical of 65 and he ends the week at -8. Confidence restored, subsequent 12 months possibly. Make it occur, Rickie. Right here, it’s been some time since we posted this. Any outdated excuse …
Scottie Scheffler is in full management of his feelings. Like that’s breaking information. A no-fuss par at 3. In the meantime up on 4, the gallery falls right into a subdued funk, as realisation units in that their hero Rory McIlroy is already operating out of holes, and of hope. From the centre of the green, he shoves his method into thick garbage to the proper of the inexperienced. Unable to manage the chip popping out, it twangs on the downslope and races off 40 toes previous the opening. That results in bogey, and he’s again to -8.
“Sergio reaching C-level meltdown on the tee at 2, then occurring to make birdie undoubtedly deserves a point out on the weblog,” write Patrick and Kelly Della, clearly followers of our not-completely-officially-sanctioned SERGIO MELTDOWN-O-METER. Your want and so on. Oh my. Oh dearie me. Oh Sergio! You’re proper, that’s a full C and no mistake. For the file, our hero completed with a 68, ending his week at -3. Gotta love Sergio!
Chris Gotterup drains a monster left-to-right slinger on 4! That’s the road all proper, like Xander Schauffele earlier than him. Gotterup, the brand new Scottish Open champion, clearly likes a hyperlinks. The 26-year-old from New Jersey one to observe on the Open within the coming years. He’s value maintaining a tally of now, really, rising as he does to -9.
Haotong Li’s escape from the bunker at 2 is sort of a full-on blade. His ball whizzes by the inexperienced and right into a melancholy on the opposite facet, and he can’t stand up and down. Bogey. Scottie Scheffler’s method wasn’t all that, and he’s obtained to make do with par on a gap that’s been giving up birdies and eagles at this time. However regardless of handing 0.2 pictures again to the sector, his lead has elevated. A reminder that he doesn’t should make a transfer; the others do. (A reality hammered dwelling on the par-three third, the place Matt Fitzpatrick airmails his tee shot over the inexperienced. His ball rests in a divot, he can’t scramble his par, and that’s bogey. Par for Rory.)
-15: Scheffler (2)
-10: Li (2)
-9: English (3), McIlroy (3)
-8: DeChambeau (15), R Højgaard (6), Schauffele (4), Hatton (4), Gotterup (3), Fitzpatrick (3)
One other birdie for Bryson DeChambeau! He whistles in a right-to-left slider from 30 toes on 15 and rises to -8. On the danger of belabouring the purpose, but it surely merely can’t go unannounced: he shot 78 on Thursday! That is turning into one of many nice {golfing} what-ifs.
Rasmus Højgaard is this near raking in a monster for eagle on 5, having pushed the inexperienced. He tidies up for birdie and strikes to -8. Again on 4, the defending champion Xander Schauffele truthful rattles a left-to-right swinger into the cup for birdie. Had that not hit the opening, it was racing an extended well beyond. However it did, and the Californian strikes to -8 as properly.
… however nothing’s sure but, in fact. Up on the 2nd inexperienced, Rory McIlroy, having despatched his method right into a swale to the proper of the inexperienced, practically holes out for eagle with a Texas Wedge. He faucets in to maneuver to -9. Par for Matt Fitzpatrick. Then coming behind, Scottie Scheffler comes up wanting the inexperienced, whereas Haotong Li finds a bunker guarding the entrance proper. A reminder that there’s an extended solution to go. Bogey in the meantime for Hideki Matsuyama on the lengthy and notoriously tough par-three sixteenth (which Scottie has birdied on daily basis, naturally) and he slips again to -7.
Scottie Scheffler and Haotong Li crack their drives down the center of two. Now then, we talked about Henrik Stenson’s lowest profitable whole of 264 at Troon in 2016. If Scheffler needs to beat that mark, he’ll must shoot 64 at this time. In the meantime if Haotong Li needs to interrupt the file for lowest whole by a runner-up, he’ll must card a closing spherical of 63, which he’s finished earlier than at Birkdale in 2016. Ought to Li do this, he’d beat the mark of 267 set by each Phil Mickelson at Troon in 2016 and Jordan Spieth at Sandwich in 2021. Not that we’re making large assumptions in regards to the order by which everybody’s going to complete. Oh no no no.
Scheffler faucets in for his birdie and strikes 5 clear. Impulsively, Li’s three-foot birdie putt, which seemed a certain factor moments in the past, appears to be like double the size. So hats off to him for rapping it into the centre of the cup. In the meantime birdie at 2 for Harris English, who is decided to not let this flip right into a Watson-Nicklaus or Stenson-Mickelson fashion two-man duel.
-15: Scheffler (1)
-11: Li (1)
-9: English (2), Fitzpatrick (1)
-8: Hatton (3), Gotterup (2), McIlroy (1)
Haotong Li arrows his second at 1 to a few toes. Gauntlet down! Scottie’s response? A 9-iron which lands softly ten toes to the proper of the opening, then, utilizing a combination of spin and camber, pulls his ball again to kick-in distance! That’s merely sensational. Subsequent!
Rory McIlroy’s birdie putt has an enormous left-to-right swing. He doesn’t set it out vast sufficient. Opening par. And it’s the identical for Matt Fitzpatrick, who chips as much as three toes and tidies up for his saver. All good and properly … however not one of the chasing pack have made the early birdies they want. Effectively, Tyrrell Hatton did, however handed it again instantly. See additionally Rasmus Højgaard, who began with a birdie-birdie bang however has simply bogeyed 4 to drop again to -7.
The ultimate group take to the tee. Haotong Li whip-cracks an iron down the center. Then the chief Scottie Scheffler, who tugs at his iron barely. It appears to be like like heading into the thick stuff down the left, however takes a fortunate bounce to the proper and settles within the semi-rough. However you make your individual luck, and Scottie has made solely three bogeys all week. Right here we go, then!
Rory McIlroy is out and about, soundtracked by the standard ozone-layer-bothering roars. An iron straight down the center. An method straight down the center and over the flag. He’ll have a 20-foot putt coming again for birdie. Matt Fitzpatrick has some work to do, although, having dispatched his tee shot into the tough down the left, then despatched a flyer over the again of the inexperienced. In the meantime Hideki Matsuyama’s eagle putt at 12 shaves the opening, Tyrrell Hatton’s bunkered tee shot at 2 results in bogey, and right here’s how the highest of the leaderboard appears to be like proper now.
-14: Scheffler
-10: Li
-9: Fitzpatrick
-8: Matsuyama (12), R Hojgaard (3), Hatton (2), English (1), Gotterup (1), McIlroy
-7: DeChambeau (13), Fleetwood (11), Corridor (7), MacIntyre (3), Henley (3), Schauffele (2)
What Bryson DeChambeau would give to play his Thursday spherical once more. A 78 had him nearly actually going dwelling early, however he’s responded just like the two-time major-winning champion he’s: a 65 to keep away from the minimize with one thing to spare, a 68 yesterday, and now he’s five-under for his spherical at this time by 12 holes! Birdies at 3, 4, 7, 9 and 12. He’s -7 for the championship, and if he’d obtained his act collectively like this for his first spherical, he’d be fascinated by breaking Henrik Stenson’s file for lowest profitable whole of 264, set at Troon in 2016, and it’d be Scottie Scheffler doing all of the chasing at this time. However he didn’t, so he isn’t, and Scottie received’t be, so right here we’re. Nonetheless, what a response!
Tommy Fleetwood is just too far again to dream, however he seems to be within the temper to make up as a lot floor as attainable anyway. He’s out in 32 after birdies at 3, 5, 7, 8 and 9. The Southport star is -7. In the meantime irritation early doorways for Bob MacIntyre, who practically rolls in a 40-footer for eagle at 2, however his ball stops one dimple shy. His enjoying accomplice Rasmus Hojgaard in the meantime begins birdie-birdie. They’re -7 and -8 respectively.
The chasing pack want birdies instantly in the event that they’re to trigger Scottie Scheffler any concern. Tyrrell Hatton flies out of the traps with a just about good birdie on 1, his tee shot down the center his method caught to a few toes, the putt straight into the cup. He strikes to -9, although he’s discovered a fairway bunker together with his drive at 2, so there goes any hope of eagle.
Three birdies in a row for the 2021 Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama. He strikes to -7 after selecting up strokes at 2, 5, 9, 10 and now 11, 5 underneath for his spherical just like the aforementioned Maverick McNealy. Matsuyama tied for sixth on his Open debut at Muirfield in 2013, however hasn’t finished a lot within the Championship since. He’s at the moment heading in the right direction for simply his second top-ten end.
Not one of the amateurs made the minimize this 12 months, so no one shall be awarded the Silver Medal. For the file, the best-performing amateurs this 12 months have been Cameron Adam, a 22-year-old from Fife, and Ethan Fang, a 20-year-old Texan who received the Newbie Championship this 12 months and of whom massive issues are anticipated. Each completed their week at +3, a few pictures shy of weekend survival.
Maverick McNealy is the most well liked property out on the course proper now. He’s 5 underneath for his spherical, having adopted up eagle at 2 with birdies at 3, 9, 10, 13 and 14. Bogeys at 4 and seven clearly didn’t derail his momentum. The 29-year-old Californian is lastly starting to ship on all of the early hype, and he’s -6 general.
Lowry shoots 66
Low scoring, then. Effectively, yeah! The massive story of the morning was Shane Lowry, who six years in the past did what Scottie Scheffler is more likely to do at this time: amble round Portrush with the Claret Jug pretty much as good as already pocketed. Lowry’s gone out in fashion, in additional methods than one: he went out in 32 strokes, after which practically holed out from the underside of the massive swale to the left of 18. Inches away from a sensational valedictory blow. A 66 to bid farewell, and he ends the week at -2. Not what he was dreaming of, however the 2019 champion golfer will all the time have … er … Portrush.
Rain and attainable thunderstorms have been forecast for Sunday initially of the week. However whereas the forecasters have gotten most issues spot on, this name was method vast of the mark. It’s sunny and scorching! Low scores ahoy! Not an excessive amount of in the best way of wind, both, although gusts could decide up a bit later within the afternoon. The forecasters weren’t that far vast of the mark although: these showers and thunderstorms could heave into view within the night, however by then all the things most probably shall be finished and dusted. An excellent Open Sunday!
Preamble
Let’s not put too positive some extent on it: the 153rd Open Championship is Scottie Scheffler’s to lose, and the ultimate spherical at Portrush will most probably develop into a procession. Larger 54-hole leads have been misplaced previously … however Scheffler is of a special stripe to poor outdated Jean Van de Velde, who went into the ultimate spherical at Carnoustie in 1999 5 clear and so stuffed with hope. It’s not completely past the realms that one of many chasing pack might overhaul the chief’s four-stroke benefit, however that’d absolutely take an ideal storm of a spherical within the mid-to-low 60s whereas the world primary suffers a sequence of absurdly dangerous bounces and/or an incomprehensible implosion. Having stated all that, that is golf, so.
Right here’s how the highest of the leaderboard taken care of the third spherical …
-14: Scheffler
-10: Li
-9: Fitzpatrick
-8: McIlroy, Gotterup, English, Hatton
-7: Schauffele
-6: Henley, N Højgaard, MacIntyre, R Højgaard, Harman
-5: Clark, Wallace, Lindell, Reitan, Åberg, Rose, Corridor, Westwood
… and right here’s at this time’s tee sheet (all instances BST, GB&I until said). It’s on!
0830 Matti Schmid, Riki Kawamoto
0840 Dean Burmester, Phil Mickelson
0850 Sebastian Soderberg, Andrew Novak
0900 Shane Lowry, Jacob Skov Olesen
0910 Antoine Rozner, Viktor Hovland
0920 Adrien Saddier, Ryggs Johnston
0930 Romain Langasque, Jordan Spieth
0940 Francesco Molinari, Matthew Jordan
0955 Sergio Garcia, Justin Leonard
1005 Thomas Detry, Sepp Straka
1015 Aaron Rai, Jason Kokrak
1025 Daniel Berger, Jhonattan Vegas
1035 Maverick McNealy, Henrik Stenson
1045 Takumi Kanaya, Jordan Smith
1055 Sam Burns, Rickie Fowler
1110 Akshay Bhatia, Jon Rahm
1120 Jesper Svensson, Thriston Lawrence
1130 Bryson DeChambeau, Nathan Kimsey
1140 Hideki Matsuyama, Tony Finau
1150 Justin Thomas, Tommy Fleetwood
1200 JJ Spaun, John Parry
1210 Keegan Bradley, Christiaan Bezuidenhout
1225 Marc Leishman, Lucas Glover
1235 Sungjae Im, Dustin Johnson
1245 Corey Conners, Lee Westwood
1255 Harry Corridor, Justin Rose
1305 Ludvig Åberg, Kristoffer Reitan
1315 Oliver Lindell, Matt Wallace
1325 Wyndham Clark, Brian Harman
1340 Rasmus Højgaard, Robert MacIntyre
1350 Nicolai Højgaard, Russell Henley
1400 Xander Schauffele, Tyrrell Hatton
1410 Harris English, Chris Gotterup
1420 Rory McIlroy, Matt Fitzpatrick
1430 Haotong Li, Scottie Scheffler