SUPER MCILROY’S ON COURSE FOR FAIRY-TALE STORY
BY NEIL McLEMAN
THE last time The Open was staged at St Andrews, Rory McIlroy was out injured and the third round was suspended due to high winds.
Yesterday, on another glorious day on the Fife coast, the red-hot Ulsterman made up for lost time by blowing away the Old Course and firing a 66 to share the lead going into today’s final round.
And the world No.2 faces a potential final round duel in the sun with Viktor Hovland, who also carded a six-under 66, as more history awaits in the 150th Open.
At one stage during the high quality third round yesterday, the top four places on the leaderboard were occupied by stars all ranked in the top nine in the world.
But overnight leader Cam Smith (73) and world No.1 Scottie Scheffler (69) could not keep pace with the two Europeans playing in the penultimate group.
Their first bogey came on the 17th when McIlroy went over the green and bounced off the wall on the Road Hole.
American world No.32 Cam Young (above) and Smith are the nearest challengers four shots back.
The record Open score here of 19-under par was set here by Tiger Woods in 2000 and there could be a finale as thrilling as Tom Watson holding off Jack Nicklaus at Turnberry in 1977.
Days of Scottish sun have baked the fairways into runways to allow the world’s best players to fly their tee shots to the shorter greens of par-4s.
And with generous pin placements, there was no defence from a gentle breeze.
The Hovland charge started on
Friday evening when he holed out for eagle from 139 yards on the 15th as he played the last five holes in four-under par.
Starting three shots behind Smith, he took the outright lead after four consecutive birdies on the front nine.
McIlroy started slowly and made his first birdie on No.6. But he hit the front in stunning style on No.10 when he holed a 27-yard bunker shot for eagle.
The deafening roar was followed by chants of “Rory, Rory” –- and he will enjoy more home support today.
His bogey at 17 was when he went over the green from 168 yards.
Aussie world No.6 Smith set a 36-hole scoring record here and took a three-shot lead into the third round. But his play was a lot less vibrant than his multi-coloured shirt.
Starting with a three-putt bogey on the first hole, he went out in level par and then took a doublebogey six on 13 after finding heather with his second shot.
Dustin Johnson, the last LIV player in contention, will be glad this Major is not staged over 54 holes.
After climbing into contention on the front nine, a hat-trick of bogeys coming home saw him shoot a 71.
Rory aside, the British challenge is too far away. US
Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick was inspired to a 66 playing with Tiger Woods in the second round and shot a 69 with Min Woo Lee.
He sits on nine-under par with Tommy Fleetwood after his 66.
Tyrrell Hatton started the day only five shots off the lead, but faded with a 73.