Austrian Bernd on course to become the Scottish Open’s Renaissance man
Wiesberger last night edged clear at the top of the Scottish Open leaderboard – then pledged to toast victory today in true Scots style.
The focused Austrian picked up six shots through 16 holes at the Renaissance Club, before bogeying 17 to spark a nervous passage down the last.
However, he steadied the ship with a birdie to chalk up a sixunder-par 65 – leaving himself 20-under for the tournament.
He sits two shots clear of Erik Van Rooyen in second place, and four clear of Romain Langasque and Nino Bertasio in joint third ahead of today’s action.
And if he chalks up his second Tour win of the season following May’s Made in Denmark victory, Wiesberger will know exactly how to toast it.
He said: “If I win I’ll probably celebrate with some Scotch.
“When I won the Ballantine’s Championship in Korea I was allowed to blend my own Scotch up at St Andrews with their master craftsman.
“And I have the one blended by the previous year’s winner, Lee Westwood, as well, so maybe that’s one that could be opened. We’ll see how it goes tomorrow.”
A win today would be the sixth of Wiesberger’s career.
But after a fraught spell over the last year, it is one he would particularly relish.
“I’ve really enjoyed my time on the golf course a lot more after being able to lift the trophy in Denmark,” he said.
“With that a lot of expectation and pressure has fallen off.
“I’d been in a position where I didn’t play well early in the year and thoughts of keeping my card – which has never been an issue for me – were creeping into the back of my mind.
“With that now gone, I have a free mind and I’m able to just enjoy my time out on the golf course.”
A rain-lashed beginning to day three in East Lothian did not hamper the early starters, who continued, as they had on Thursday and Friday, to take shots off an eminently scoreable course.
As the afternoon brightened, the leaders followed their example.
Only seven players went over par on the day, leading to the European Tour staging a secondary cut, trimming today’s field to 72, including those tied for 72nd place.
And should, as seems highly likely, today’s winner go lower than 20-under-par, he will set a new record for the Scottish Open, usurping last year’s winner Brandon Stone, and Ian Woosnam, for whom 20-under secured victory in 1987.
Among the big names,
Rory Mcilroy continued his Open preparations with a three-under-par 68, which left him nine shots behind Wiesberger. Another former Open Champion, Henrik Stenson, double-bogeyed 17 to spoil an otherwise solid round and leave himself six shots off the pace.
Meanwhile, an impressive 64 from Matt Wallace saw the Englishman move to 15-under for the tournament, alongside Welsh star Jamie Donaldson, who is in pole position to claim one of three available Open qualification spots for those finishing in the top 10.
Donaldson, Europe’s 2014 Ryder Cup hero, was one of the day’s big movers, carding a six-under 65 to leave himself five shots behind the leader.
For the Welshman, who feared his career might be finished after wrist surgery last year, it was a heartening day.
“I did think it could be over. I was just hoping it wasn’t! There was no Plan B. Just keep going,” he admitted.
“It would be massive to win here. I played really good today so if I could produce that tomorrow there’s no reason why I can’t be right up there and have a really good chance.”
On the Scots front, Calum Hill looked set to be the leading local on the final day before bogeys on 17 and 18 saw him fall level with countryman Scott Jamieson on 10-under for the tournament.