Norwegian golfer puts up a strong fight
Rory McIlroy is still knocking loudly on the door to win the 150th Open Championship in Scotland. But first he needs to shake off a very persistent Viktor Hovland. The Norwegian golfer equalled McIlroy’s score of yesterday producing an impressive 6-under par 66 to clinch a share of the lead at St Andrews with a breathtaking 16-under par.
Moving day started with Australian Cameron Smith nestled at the top of the leaderboard. He had shot an 8-under par on day two to get to 13-under par and take the lead from Cameron Young (USA). They played together on Saturday. Smith bogeyed the 1st and double-bogeyed the 13th. Alas, just two birdies peppered his card resulting in a disappointing 1-over par 73 score and a tally of 12-under.
Cameron Young had an up and down day with two bogeys, a double-bogey and five birdies to card a 1-under par 71 to level with Smith on 12-under.
However, it was Hovland and McIlroy who had an inspiring day on Saturday. Hovland opened with 32 strokes on the first nine which included 4 birdies. On the back nine, he had two more lovely birdies on the 10th and 18th to score a delectable 6-under par 66.
McIlroy was also delighted with Hovland’s fine play. It saw him also close the first nine in 33 and then make a super eagle at the par 4 10th. The match was seriously on between these two big guns. And just when you thought the Northern Irishman had got the upper hand, he blasted his ball nearly out of bounds at the 17th hole. After much deliberation, McIlroy chipped the ball back into play from next to the wall and finally walked off the green with a very disappointing bogey 5. It was his first bogey in 20 holes of golf in the Open.
Two fine birdies at the sometimes driveable 343-yard 18th saw McIlroy and his playing partner Hovland finish day three both on a score of 66.
But it was not all good scoring on moving day. There were a lot of players who were feeling the pressure of winning the 150th Open Championship at St Andrews. Among them was America’s Dustin Johnson. On the back nine he had three bogeys in four holes but managed to redeem himself, ever so slightly, with a birdie at the 18th.
The good news for amateur golfers is that four of them made the weekend cut which means that 21-year old Filippo Celli from Italy looks set to win the Silver Medal.
With the world’s greatest golfers congregated in Fife, today will decide who will become the famous 150th Open Champion at St Andrews. All I can say is that the Open is going to be absolutely breathtaking. Enjoy!
Wendy Hoad
Editor
MAIN PHOTOGRAPH: Rory McIlroy is on a roll to win the 150th Open Championship. CENTRE: Viktor Hovland is taking this Open very seriously. MINIS (l-r): Dustin Johnson, Viktor Hovland and Cameron Smith.