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-12: Harman
-7: Young
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Cameron Young cracks two big hits down 18, but the second squeaks into the bunker front right. No matter! Even though he can only just get a stance, squeezed in between the side of the trap and the ball, he clips crisply to a couple of feet, and that’s a closing birdie for a magnificent 66. The chance of going one better than last year, when he ended in second place at St Andrews, is very much alive. Birdie meanwhile for the 2017 champion Jordan Spieth, but it’s only for a level-par 71. He’s -2.
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-12: Harman (14)
-7: Young (F)
-6: Rahm (F), Straka (14)
-5: Hovland (F), Rozner (F), Day (15), Sharma (15), Fleetwood (14)
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Viktor Hovland’s approach to the 18th digs in, instead of rolling close, but no matter! He rolls in the 20-foot birdie effort that remains for his sixth birdie of the day! Just the one dropped shot, at 2, and he ends the day at -5. He’d need quite a few things to fall his way, and for Brian Harman to collapse, but as things stand, going out in the last match on Sunday for the second Open in a row is still a live possibility for the 25-year-old Norwegian!
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Matt’s younger brother pours a 15-foot birdie putt straight into the cup on 18, and his eyes sparkle with delight! Out in 32, back in 33, with three birdies in the closing four holes! His look of glee is an absolute balm for the soul. What an Open debut the 24-year-old is having! He’s back in the house at -4. Now that’s moving.
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It would have been a terrible anti-climax had Rahm taken three to get down from the fringe at the back of 18. So we’re pleased to report that despite underhitting his chip, he rolls the very missable ten-footer he’d left himself into the heart of the cup, and that’s his sixth birdie on the back nine! Home in 30 for a 63, and that’s the lowest score ever shot at Hoylake in the Open Championship! He’s right in the mix now. Penny for the thoughts of Brian Harman, just as the leader takes to the first tee!
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-10: Harman
-6: Rahm (F)
-5: Fleetwood
-4: Hojgaard (8), Day (1), Straka
-3: Bland (9), Rozner (8), McIlroy (4), Young (3), Sharma (1), Lee
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Welcome to Moving Day at the 151st Open Championship!After 36 holes, the top of the leaderboard looked like this …
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-10: Harman
-5: Fleetwood
-4: Straka
-3: Lee, Sharma, Day
-2: Otaegui, Grillo, Spieth, Young
-1: Southgate, Lawrence, McIlroy, Homa, Migliozzi, Stewart, Jordan, Cink, Stenson, Clark, Hojgaard, Rozner, Bland
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… while these (selected) big names missed the cut …
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Collin Morikawa, Keegan Bradley, Sahith Theegala, Joaquin Niemann, Francesco Molinari, Tony Finau, Justin Rose, Sam Burns, Charl Schwartzel, Shane Lowry, Kim Si-woo, Darren Clarke, Phil Mickelson, Ernie Els, Justin Thomas and Dustin Johnson
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… and that left us with a tee sheet that looked like this (all times BST, GB&I unless stated). It’s on! Hoylake ahoy!
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08.55 Rickie Fowler (USA), Robert MacIntyre
09.05 Scottie Scheffler (USA), Adam Scott (Aus)
09.15 Patrick Cantlay (USA), Brooks Koepka (USA)
09.25 Padraig Harrington, Scott Stallings (USA)
09.35 Christo Lamprecht -a- (Rsa), Andrew Putnam (USA)
09.45 Ryan Fox (Nzl), Victor Perez (Fra)
10.00 Richie Ramsay, David Lingmerth (Swe)
10.10 Sami Valimaki (Fin), Danny Willett
10.20 Bryson DeChambeau (USA), Xander Schauffele (USA)
10.30 Matthew Fitzpatrick, Cameron Smith (Aus)
10.40 Kurt Kitayama (USA), JT Poston (USA)
10.50 Louis Oosthuizen (Rsa), Patrick Reed (USA)
11.00 Rikuya Hoshino (Jpn), Hurly Long (Ger)
11.15 Tyrrell Hatton, Brandon Thompson
11.25 Sung-Jae Im (Kor), Jon Rahm (Spa)
11.35 Corey Conners (Can), Zach Johnson (USA)
11.45 Christiaan Bezuidenhout (Rsa), Gary Woodland (USA)
11.55 Romain Langasque (Fra), Brendon Todd (USA)
12.05 Zack Fischer (USA), Alex Fitzpatrick
12.15 Joost Luiten (Ned), Jordan Smith
12.30 Adrian Meronk (Pol), Thomas Pieters (Bel)
12.40 Oliver Wilson, Byeong-Hun An (Kor)
12.50 Abraham Ancer (Mex), Thomas Detry (Bel)
13.00 Alexander Noren (Swe), Marcel Siem (Ger)
13.10 Viktor Hovland (Nor), Hideki Matsuyama (Jpn)
13.20 Alexander Bjoerk (Swe), Joo-Hyung Kim (Kor)
13.30 Richard Bland, Laurie Canter
13.45 Antoine Rozner (Fra), Nicolai Hoejgaard (Den)
13.55 Wyndham Clark (USA), Henrik Stenson (Swe)
14.05 Stewart Cink (USA), Matthew Jordan
14.15 Guido Migliozzi (Ita), Michael Stewart
14.25 Max Homa (USA), Rory McIlroy
14.35 Thriston Lawrence (Rsa), Matthew Southgate
14.45 Jordan Spieth (USA), Cameron Young (USA)
15.00 Emiliano Grillo (Arg), Adrian Otaegui (Spa)
15.10 Jason Day (Aus), Shubhankar Sharma (Ind)
15.20 Min-Woo Lee (Aus), Sepp Straka (Aut)
15.30 Tommy Fleetwood, Brian Harman (USA)
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Key occasions
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An some pure Michael Butler.
Right here is Ewan Murray’s report from the day.
Loads of shifting on Transferring Day, then … simply not on the very prime of the leaderboard. The Masters champion Jon Rahm broke Hoylake’s Open report with 63, whereas Cameron Younger carded a positive 66 that lifted final yr’s runner-up into competition. However the chief Brian Harman steadied the ship after dropping two pictures within the first 4 holes, making 4 birdies from there on in to retain a five-stroke cushion on the prime. Solely two gamers in historical past have held such an enormous lead on the 54-hole stage and not gone on to win the Open: MacDonald Smith in 1925 and Jean Van de Velde in 1999. So we’re both going to see Harmon turn into the second participant from the state of Georgia to win at Hoylake, after the good Bobby Jones … or witness one thing very dramatic and extraordinarily memorable certainly. Sleep nicely Brian! See you all tomorrow!
-12: Harman
-7: Younger
-6: Rahm
-5: Hovland, Rozner, Day, Straka, Fleetwood
-4: A Fitzpatrick, Sharma
-3: Detry, Kim, Hojgaard, Jordan, McIlroy, Grillo
-2: M Fitzpatrick, Im, Langasque, Matsuyama, Homa, Spieth, Lee
Brian Harman in with 69
Then the chief Brian Harman. The truth is he’s obtained an eight-and-a-half foot putt … and he rolls it in confidently. By no means lacking! He walks off having shot 69 with the look of a person who is aware of he obtained away with one down the final … however he deserves his luck, as a result of the way in which he bounced again after a really rocky opening 4 holes was the type of stuff that Champion Golfers are made from. He’s obtained a five-shot lead going into the ultimate spherical!
-12: Harman
-7: Younger
Tommy Fleetwood first. He thinks the putt is useless straight; it slides just a little to the suitable. Only a par, and it actually hasn’t been Tommy Lad’s day. A second 71 in a row. He goes into Sunday at -5.
Fleetwood solely simply whips his wedge over the bunkers. Half a yard shorter and he was in a world of sandy ache. He’ll take a look at birdie from 25 toes. However earlier than that it’s over to Harman, who doesn’t fairly reap the benefits of the nice lie he’s obtained fortunate with after that poor fairway wooden. He leaves his chip ten toes quick, and blows out his cheeks in frustration. A few large putts arising right here.
Fleetwood’s ball has clanked off the grandstand and just about into the drop-zone he’d have been dropping into had it stayed caught within the bleachers. In order that appears honest. He’s 80 yards from the flag. An up and down right here and he’ll really feel a complete lot higher concerning the world. He’s been fairly down on himself for the final couple of hours.
Brian Harman unleashes a fairway wooden from 267 yards. He sends it out to the left of the inexperienced, and will get a fairly lucky break, his ball nestling within the semi-rough versus the thick stuff. However he’s nonetheless obtained to lob over bunkers to stand up and down from 35 yards. Tommy Fleetwood in the meantime, his noggin lengthy gone, sends a snap hook into the grandstand. He’s been all around the store on this again 9, ragged sufficient to say that his sequence of 1 bogey and 7 pars because the flip is one thing of a street-fighting achievement.
Harman’s lie, in thick, moist grass, is appalling. He can solely squirt a wedge again onto the golf green. For a second, it’s heart-in-mouth time as his ball flies in the direction of the OB on the opposite facet of the golf green, nevertheless it stops in loads of time. He’ll have an extended third in, although. Up on the inexperienced, it’s a par for Min Woo Lee, who indicators for a 72 that at one level threatened to be quite a bit worse; he’s -2. And it’s a disappointing bogey for Sepp Straka, who can’t stand up and down from the sand. A 70, and he’s -5.
“Beans on toast!” The newest culinary heckle greets Brian Harman’s drive on 18. The chief sends his ball into thick tough down the left. Tommy Fleetwood splits the golf green. Up the outlet, Sepp Straka slam-dunks his third right into a greenside bunker.
A two-putt par for Tommy Fleetwood on 17. Ditto Brian Harman. Up on 18, Shubhankar Sharma takes his two putts for par, as does Jason Day. A 70 and a 69. Acquired to say, this weblog, and certainly the Open, have served up extra thrilling moments, however that is the place we’re.
-12: Harman (17)
-7: Younger (F)
-6: Rahm (F), Straka (17)
-5: Hovland (F), Rozner (F), Day (F), Fleetwood (17)
-4: A Fitzpatrick (F), Sharma (F)
Up on 18, Jason Day sends his third shot in the direction of the 2 bunkers guarding the entrance left of the inexperienced. However his ball simply sails excessive, and rolls to 35 toes. Two putts for par and a 69 that would, and possibly ought to, have been higher. Shubhankar Sharma can be on in regulation, pin excessive but additionally one of the best a part of 35 toes away. He’ll be signing for a 70 ought to he take two putts for par.
Pars for Sepp Straka and Min Woo Lee at 17. Lee, by the way, has set about repairing his spherical with back-to-back birdies at 15 and 16. Having gone out in 38, he’s only one over for his spherical at this time now. They’re -6 and -2 respectively. As soon as they take their go away, Brian Harman and Tommy Fleetwood take turns to practically go too lengthy … however each of their balls spin again into the guts of the inexperienced somewhat than crusing into the scary dunes behind.
Brian Harman and Tommy Fleetwood each on 16 in regulation. Harman inside Fleetwood, which suggests the chaser will give the relentless chief the road. Simply every little thing going Harman’s method for the time being. In the meantime up on 18, Emiliano Grillo practically drains a 70-footer for birdie, however settles for a tap-in par. A 70 and he goes into Sunday at -3. Turning into the second Argentinian to win an Open at Hoylake after Roberto De Vicenzo might be past him, until Harman telephones in sick tomorrow.
Jason Day plops a stunning tee shot into the center of 17, screwing his ball again to fifteen toes. However he can’t fairly steer within the mild right-to-left breaker that continues to be. Only a par. Shubhankar Sharma goes shut too, from 20 toes or so. They continue to be at -5 and -4, and except Cameron Younger, not one of the late starters have made any advance on Brian Harman (who by the way has simply striped one down 16, he seems to be totally unflappable for the time being).
Harman’s lie down the suitable of 15 isn’t too dangerous. He wedges fastidiously into the guts of the inexperienced, then practically drains the 40-foot birdie putt that continues to be. I’d have preferred to have seen the affronted look on Fleetwood’s coupon had that dropped. As it’s, it’s only a par. Fleetwood then practically makes his lengthy birdie effort, however par must suffice for him as nicely. He’d have in all probability taken that when he was stood on the tee field watching his ball sail off for a pint.
Shubhankar Sharma takes his first backwards step of the day. Having flied his strategy into 16 over the again, he can’t stand up and down and he drops again to -4. Par for Jason Day. When the pair of them vacate the inexperienced, Sepp Straka, who has obtained fortunate along with his lie down the suitable on grass trodden flat by the punters, fires pin excessive. He’ll have a medium-range take a look at birdie.
From the centre of the fifteenth fairway, the chief Brian Harman pulls his second into the thick stuff down the suitable. A small reminder that there’s an awfully lengthy option to go but. Tommy Fleetwood in the meantime merely concentrates on getting his ball again in play, which he does. In the meantime on 16, Sepp Straka sends his tee shot into the gallery down the suitable. All just a little bit ragged proper now.
Brian Harman sends his drive on the par-five fifteenth down the center. Tommy Fleetwood, the strain telling, hooks his within the path of some hospitality tents. In the meantime there’s some footage of Rory McIlroy looking for some solutions on the placing inexperienced … and we are able to report that he’s lacking quick ones there as nicely. A minimum of he’s constant. He swishes his putter by means of the air with nice feeling. And no marvel! That membership’s price him any probability of this Open.
A 66 for Cameron Younger!
Cameron Younger cracks two large hits down 18, however the second squeaks into the bunker entrance proper. Irrespective of! Although he can solely simply get a stance, squeezed in between the facet of the lure and the ball, he clips crisply to a few toes, and that’s a closing birdie for a powerful 66. The possibility of going one higher than final yr, when he resulted in second place at St Andrews, may be very a lot alive. Birdie in the meantime for the 2017 champion Jordan Spieth, nevertheless it’s just for a level-par 71. He’s -2.
-12: Harman (14)
-7: Younger (F)
-6: Rahm (F), Straka (14)
-5: Hovland (F), Rozner (F), Day (15), Sharma (15), Fleetwood (14)
Brian Harman sends a beautiful second into 14, however the ball bites onerous and practically spins again off the entrance of the inexperienced. He practically drains the putt from the perimeter nonetheless, however par will do. In the meantime par too for Tommy Fleetwood, who additionally practically makes an extended birdie putt, and betrays loads of frustration as he faucets in whereas huffing and puffing. Harman feels in full management of this proper now.
Step ahead Sepp Straka! He arrows his strategy at 14 from 163 yards to 10 toes, then rattles in a assured putt. He joins the group in second spot.
-12: Harman (13)
-6: Rahm (F), Younger (17), Straka (14)
-5: Hovland (F), Rozner (F), Day (14), Sharma (14), Fleetwood (13)
-4: A Fitzpatrick (F)
Whereas Brian Harman continues to plough on forwards, it appears a lot of the chasing pack are both stalled or heading within the mistaken path. Tommy Fleetwood and Rory McIlroy we find out about. Shubhankar Sharma is on a run of 9 pars. And right here’s Jason Day, placing up from the swale to the right-hand facet of the 14th inexperienced. His ball doesn’t fairly make it to the highest of the slope, and topples all the way in which again right down to his toes. He does extraordinarily nicely to restrict the injury by knocking his second try to 4 toes and tidying up from there, however he slips to -5.
Rory McIlroy solely simply will get his second over the OB dogleg, and although he wedges his third to 10 toes, the birdie putt was by no means getting in. That flat stick has performed an entire quantity on him at this time. He began his spherical enjoying some sensational golf from tee to inexperienced, just for that work to be betrayed by his efforts on the inexperienced. No birdies after 5, and having stalled utterly, he walks off with an especially underwhelming 69. He’s -3 and his look forward to main championship quantity 5 will click on over right into a second decade.
My mistake; Tommy Fleetwood didn’t find yourself within the bunker however down the underside of a swale. He putts as much as kick-in distance, which is a consequence from the place he was. Par, however there’s one other blow arising, as a result of Brian Harman walks in his birdie putt. What a time to submit back-to-back birdies! He’s rediscovered his Friday self. He’s -12.
Harman finds the center of the par-three thirteenth with ease. He’s earned himself the suitable to swing simple proper now, and that’s precisely what he’s doing. It’s significantly spectacular stuff, particularly because the world would have been anticipating a Bobby Clampett model implosion after these rickety opening 4 holes. Birdie probability from 15 toes arising. However Fleetwood decides to push onerous, and that’s what he does, into the bunker guarding the front-right of the inexperienced. If Tommy Lad isn’t cautious, he’ll play himself out of this. He’s been extraordinarily ragged because the flip, and within the face of Harman’s latest upsurge.
Brian Harman has lengthy disbursed of these early nerves, and now he’s starting to impose himself on this Open once more. He screeches his strategy at 12 to a halt 4 toes from the pin, and tidies up for a birdie that brings him into the purple for his spherical at this time … and restores his cushion on the prime to 5 strokes. Par for Tommy Fleetwood, who’s starting to indicate indicators of frustration. See additionally Rory McIlroy, who misses an excellent birdie probability on 17 after screwing a positive tee shot to 12 toes, then practically flays his drive at 18 out of bounds on the suitable. Inches away from catastrophe, however he’s OK. Simply.
-11: Harman (12)
-6: Rahm (F), Younger (16), Day (13)
-5: Hovland (F), Rozner (F), Sharma (13), Straka (13), Fleetwood (12)
Matthew Jordan, the Hoylake member who hit the opening tee shot on Thursday morning, continues for instance the advantage of native data. 4 birdies within the final 5 holes, the ultimate one reward for a incredible iron from 170 yards to 4 toes, and he’s signing for a 69. He’s -3 and nicely set for a shy at an unlikely win tomorrow.
Cameron Younger already has three excessive finishes within the majors to his title. Final yr’s runner-up at St Andrews, in fact, but additionally a tie for third finally yr’s PGA, and a top-ten end at this yr’s Masters. He’s nonetheless not received on the PGA Tour, however is definitely on account of break by means of sooner somewhat than later. Is that this the week for the 26-year-old from New York state? Maybe! A chip and a putt on the par-five fifteenth and he joins Jon Rahm and Jason Day in second spot at -6.
Jason Day and Shubhankar Sharma take turns to practically drain monster birdie putts throughout 12. A 58-foot effort adopted by a 40-foot one, each quick by lower than the width of a dimple. The small margins. They continue to be at -6 and -5 respectively. Pars in the meantime for Brian Harman and Tommy Fleetwood at 11. In spite of everything the sooner pleasure, issues have fallen just a little flat at Hoylake. It ebbs and flows, ebbs and flows.
It’s back-to-back birdies for Sepp Straka, the newest at 11. The 30-year-old Austrian, who completed tied for seventh on the PGA a few months in the past, and likewise has a top-ten end on the Gamers to his title, joins the occasion at -5. Additionally -5, however coming within the different path, is Tommy Fleetwood, who can’t stand up and down from greenside sand at 10. Now each Brian Harman and Fleetwood are again the place they started the day.
McIlroy’s early verve has lengthy been misplaced. He cracks two large pictures down the par-five fifteenth, then wedges to eight toes … however yet one more birdie putt goes by the wayside. If that flat stick had been scorching at this time, be careful record-book! However for probably the most half it’s been stone chilly. He stays at -3. In the meantime up on 18, Antoine Rozner is pressured to kneel by the facet of a greenside bunker and attain inside to punch out … and he does so gracefully to 4 toes! In goes the birdie putt and that’s an outstanding 67 from the unsung 30-year previous Frenchman. He’s -5.
Three birdies in a row for the native hero Matthew Jordan at 14, 15 and 16! After a quiet day, the long-time Hoylake member rises rapidly to -2. Sepp Straka drains a 40-footer on 10 for his first birdie of the spherical; after bogey on 4, he’s again to the place he began at -4. And again down the outlet, Tommy Fleetwood clacks his tee shot down the monitor, because the gallery continues with its satirical mashed-potato subversions: “T-Bone!” Isn’t that one already taken?
Brian Harman clips his tee shot on the par-three ninth to a few toes. He rolls within the birdie putt, and he’s again the place he began the day. Given the shaky method he performed the primary 4 holes, that is the type of decided behaviour that wins Open Championships. Par for Tommy Fleetwood.
-10: Harman (9)
-6: Rahm (F), Day (10), Fleetwood (9)
-5: Hovland (F), Younger (13), Sharma (10)
-4: A Fitzpatrick (F), Rozner (17), Grillo (11)
-3: Detry (F), Kim (F), Bland (17), N Hojgaard (17), McIlroy (14), Straka (9)
Jon Rahm speaks to Sky Sports activities.“I rolled just a few extra putts in … climate circumstances had been simpler … I used to be conscious it was going to be an vital spherical when it comes to the Open … to get decrease than 65 was actually enjoyable … I’ve to check it to the opening spherical [of 65] at Augusta, a special begin however an analogous feeling … it’s large, it doesn’t matter what occurs … I’ve performed sufficient to provide myself one of the best probability … it seems to be just like the climate goes to get just a little bit worse so we’ll see the place I find yourself on the finish of the day.”
A 68 for Tom Kim. Not dangerous for somebody who went over on his ankle on Thursday, struggling a “grade one tear”. There’s at all times one thing occurring with Tom, isn’t there. A natural-born star.
Jason Day sends his tee shot down the facet of the par-three ninth. He’s short-sided with a wibbly-wobbly swale in between. Irrespective of! He rattles a assured putt by means of the indentations and straight into the cup! Birdie, and he’s out in 32. Day got here up one shot wanting making the play-off at St Andrews in 2015; he seems to be within the temper to proper that mistaken this week.
-9: Harman (7)
-6: Rahm (F), Day (9), Fleetwood (7)
-5: Hovland (F), Younger (11), Sharma (9)
-4: A Fitzpatrick (F), Rozner (16)
-3: Detry (F), Kim (17), Bland (17), N Hojgaard (16), McIlroy (13), Grillo (10), Straka (8)
Viktor Hovland shoots 66!
Viktor Hovland’s strategy to the 18th digs in, as a substitute of rolling shut, however irrespective of! He rolls within the 20-foot birdie effort that continues to be for his sixth birdie of the day! Simply the one dropped shot, at 2, and he ends the day at -5. He’d want fairly just a few issues to fall his method, and for Brian Harman to break down, however as issues stand, going out within the final match on Sunday for the second Open in a row continues to be a stay risk for the 25-year-old Norwegian!
Rory practically bounces straight again on 13. He’s this near draining a 40-footer throughout the inexperienced for birdie, however par must suffice. He stays -3. Cameron Younger yips a brief birdie effort on 11; he stays at -5. And up on 15, Antoine Rozner holes out from 30 yards for an eagle that whisks him up the standings to -4.
You might be questioning why there’s been no point out of the penultimate group of Min Woo Lee and Sepp Straka. That’s as a result of they’re dragging one another down. Not a birdie between them. Straka has bogeyed 4 to drop to -3; Lee has shed pictures at 1, 4 and 6 to tumble to degree par. Finest look away, for now no less than.
The rain continues to be coming down. There’s no wind, although. Actually not in Rory McIlroy’s sail; he can’t make his par putt on 12, which is at all times drifting left, and he trudges off in a funk. He drops to -3.
Brian Harman and Tommy Fleetwood take turns to go shut, however no cigar, on the sixth. They continue to be at -9 and -6 respectively. In the meantime up on 12, Rory McIlroy drives into deep filth down the left, then sends his second down a swale to the suitable of the inexperienced. He chips up, however in uncharacteristically unconvincing vogue, and he’ll be left with a 20-footer to avoid wasting his par.
5 birdies within the final eight holes for Thomas Detry. It might have been six, had his ball not stopped half-a-dimple quick on the sting of the 18th gap. He inspects the ball from all angles, nevertheless it’s not going to drop, and finally he admits defeat and faucets within the shortest shot. Again in 32 for a 67 and the 30-year-old Belgian, who has little or no of notice on his CV other than a play-off berth on the 2021 Scottish Open, is at present tied for tenth at -3.
Again-to-back birdies for Cameron Younger at 8 and 9. Final yr’s runner-up fancies some extra business-end motion. He’s -5. In the meantime the wits of Hoylake have entertained all week as they subvert the US mashed-potato trope. “Chips and gravy” is the newest gambit as Tommy Fleetwood fires into the guts of 6.
A fairly good eagle try by Brian Harman from 70 toes away at 5. The ball solely simply dies to the suitable on the final. What a lift that may have been! As it’s, that’s a positive birdie that repairs a few of the early injury and can de-jangle just a few nerve endings. In the meantime a disappointing six-foot miss for Tommy Fleetwood, and the momentum shifts once more. Not for the final time, I’ll be certain.
-9: Harman (5)
-6: Rahm (F), Fleetwood (5)
The rain’s toppling down now. Brian Harman may very well be forgiven for slipping into Metaphor Mode, however as a substitute he crashes a drive down the center of the par-five fifth, then finds the back-edge of the inexperienced with an excellent second. Two putts for birdie could be fairly the tonic, although from 70 toes nothing’s sure. Nonetheless, that’s an honest response to a different bogey-infused disappointment.
On 5, Jason Day rakes in an extended putt for birdie … whereas his associate Shubhankar Sharma rattles in an eagle putt from related distance! They each leap to -5. Viktor Hovland isn’t too distant from eagle at 15, however he’s completely happy sufficient to faucet in for par. Rory will get up and down from the underside of the swale at 10, with out breaking sweat. He’s within the temper. And again on 4, Brian Harman can’t make his par saver. That is actually opening up now.
-8: Harman (4)
-6: Rahm (F), Fleetwood (4)
-5: Day (5), Sharma (5)
-4: A Fitzpatrick (F), Hovland (15), McIlroy (10), Younger (8)
Harman performs the chances. He definitely doesn’t need the ball coming again down the slope in the direction of his toes. So he offers the chip just a little further oomph, and it rolls 12 toes previous. However no less than this fashion he’s assured a putt for par. In the meantime on 10, there’ll be no birdie putt for Rory this time, as his second into the monster par-four tenth hits the financial institution on the entrance of the inexperienced and kicks left.
Rory can’t make his birdie putt. He’s had a possibility on each single gap to date! He’s three for 9. Unsure how you can course of this, as a result of his play tee to inexperienced is outrageously good. However he’s nonetheless handing over 32, so it’s onerous to criticise. He may very well be simply 4 strokes off the lead quickly, too, as a result of again on 4, Brian Harman sends a scorching strategy out of the tough and over the again of the inexperienced. He’ll need to stand up and down from the underside of a swale, with not an excessive amount of inexperienced to play with up prime. Large second arising.
Brian Harman lags an extended putt on 3 to kick-in distance. He scrambles his par. However he’s nonetheless not trying completely comfy, slicing a totally totally different determine to the person who insouciantly strolled across the joint yesterday en path to that wonderful 65. He sends his tee shot at 4 into the thick stuff down the left.
Alex Fitzpatrick posts 65!
Matt’s youthful brother pours a 15-foot birdie putt straight into the cup on 18, and his eyes sparkle with delight! Out in 32, again in 33, with three birdies within the closing 4 holes! His look of glee is an absolute balm for the soul. What an Open debut the 24-year-old is having! He’s again in the home at -4. Now that’s shifting.
Rory McIlroy misses one other birdie putt, this time on 8, although it wasn’t precisely the simplest learn. He seems to be pained nonetheless. However he doesn’t let it have an effect on him an excessive amount of, and he units up yet one more probability on the par-three ninth, touchdown his tee shot 18 toes from the flag.
