McIlroy, Fitzpatrick and Hatton in contention
Glorious weather greeted the world’s best golfers on the third day of the 153rd Open Championship at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland (17-20 July). And what a magnificent day it was with amazing enthousiastic support from the thousands of fans not only for the local lads of Rory McIlroy and Matt Fitzgerald, but also for the number one player in the world, Scottie Scheffler who now leads the Open by four shots.
The 29-year old from Texas proved once again how he manages to snatch the lead in a tournament by just staying cool, calm and collected wherever his ball lands. Yesterday he closed the third round at the Open with a super bogey-free 67 to stay top of the leaderboard on 14-under par which was an impressive four shots clear of Haotong Li from China.
Fitzpatrick hangs on to Scheffler’s lead
England’s Matt Fitzpatrick played with Scheffler on day three but blemished his card with a dropped shot at the first to trail the leader by two. However, he fought back with an incredible eagle at the second hole after chipping-in. Fitzpatrick and Scheffler now shared the lead again on 10-under.
Scheffler was rather predictable over the first six holes when he shot straight pars. At the 7th, he came alive with an eagle which he followed by a birdie for a two-shot lead over Fitzpatrick.
The crowds were cheering loudly for Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy. He began with birdies at the first and second holes to soar-up the leaderboard. However, a few of his drives found the devastatingly thick rough at Royal Portrush like at the fifth hole. Nevertheless he still made par there. On the 11th, he made his only bogey of the day which was followed by a superb eagle at the par-5 12th after holing an enormous putt. His tremendous efforts earned him a tally of 66 to get him to 8-under for the Open and a promising share of 4th place.
Another Englishman was also in the limelight in Northern Ireland. Tyrrell Hatton was in fighting-form and shot a 68 including an eagle at the 7th hole to get to 8-under. He shares 4th spot with McIlroy and Americans Chris Gotterup and Harris English.
Gorgeous ace for England’s John Parry
Other British highlights include John Parry who scored a superb ace at the par-3 13th. The fifty-two year old Lee Westwood also surprised the crowds with a wonderful third round in which he blitzed the back-nine with six birdies to come home in 29 shots. Alas, just one shot off the lowest-ever recorded.
The defending champion Xander Schauffele (USA) was still in the picture at Royal Portrush when he made his second eagle of the day at the 12th hole. He went on to card a score of 7-under par which earned him 8th spot.
Fitzpatrick made a birdie at the 15th to join Haotong Li from China in second place on 10-under par. Two holes later, the Englishman made a bogey at the 17th to slip-back to 9-under for third spot in the Open.
In the meantime, Scottie Scheffler was Mr Steady Eddie on the back nine with straight pars the whole way apart from a birdie at the par-3 16th to create a super score of 14-under par. The World Number One just kept rolling-in the putts the whole day – phenomenal!
Enjoy the final day of the Open at Royal Portrush – it will be something to cherish for always!
Wendy Hoad
Editor
MAIN PH0TOGRAPH: Scottie Scheffler soars ahead by four strokes at the 153rd Open Championship. UNDER: Matt Fitzpatrick and Scottie Scheffler. MINIS (l-r): Rory McIlroy, Haotong Li, Brian Harman and Tyrrell Hatton.