American Brian Harman shrugged off the strain utilized by Jon Rahm’s course-record 63 to take a five-shot lead into the ultimate spherical of the British Open.
Regardless of two bogeys early in his third spherical on Saturday, Harman, who has by no means gained a significant, bounced again with 4 birdies to shoot a 69 and transfer to 12 below par.
No participant has blown a five-shot lead heading into the ultimate spherical of a significant since Frenchman Jean van de Velde’s notorious collapse on the last gap of the 1999 British Open.
Final 12 months’s runner-up Cameron Younger is Harman’s nearest challenger on seven below after the American’s third-round 66.
Nevertheless it was Masters champion Rahm who produced the standout spherical of the event to this point, choosing up six photographs on the again 9 to maintain alive his probabilities of a 3rd main.
Harman, ranked twenty sixth on the earth, had pulled away from the sphere with a shocking second spherical of 65 in tough situations on Friday.
However persistent rain that softened up the Royal Liverpool course for a day of low scoring supplied the chance for the chasing pack to shut in, significantly when Harman obtained off to a nervy begin.
The 36-year-old had solely dropped one shot in his opening 36 holes, however bogeyed the primary and fourth as his lead was reduce to 2 photographs at one stage.
Nonetheless, Harman’s clean placing stroke quickly discovered its vary as he obtained again to degree par for the day by the flip, with birdies at 5 and 9.
Again-to-back birdies on the twelfth and thirteenth turned the screw earlier than a powerful up and down to save lots of par on the final.
“It could have been very easy to let the wheels begin spinning and actually type of let it get uncontrolled, however I simply type of doubled down on my routine,” stated Harman. “Actually happy with the best way that I hung in there.”
Younger was solely denied the Claret Jug 12 months in the past by Cameron Smith’s record-equalling whole of 20 below par at St Andrews.
The 26-year-old confirmed his talent on hyperlinks golf as soon as extra with six birdies.
– Rahm on a roll –
Rahm had narrowly prevented lacking the reduce on Friday following rounds of 74 and 70.
The world quantity three was annoyed by the brutality of Royal Liverpool’s 82 bunkers throughout his first spherical and missed 4 quick putts in his second as he sneaked into the weekend at two over par.
However he bounced again in spectacular trend — lacking out on matching the bottom rating in main championship historical past by a single shot.
“That’s the perfect spherical I’ve performed on a hyperlinks course ever,” stated Rahm.
“It feels actually good, nevertheless it’s a number of work to do tomorrow.”
– McIlroy fades –
Rory McIlroy had the mass galleries following the Northern Irishman believing he may finish a nine-year main drought when he picked up three photographs within the opening 5 holes to maneuver to 4 below.
However the world quantity two didn’t construct on that momentum as he performed the ultimate 13 holes at one over to stay 9 photographs adrift of the lead at three below.
Residence favorite Tommy Fleetwood additionally suffered a irritating day regardless of raucous help from the locals.
The Englishman, who hails from close by Southport, was degree par for the day to take a seat in a five-strong group at 5 below.
That features Viktor Hovland, after the world quantity 5 shot a 66 to stay in rivalry for his first main title.
World primary Scottie Scheffler won’t be including to his sole main on the 2022 Masters.
A one-over-par spherical for the American on Saturday pushed him to 4 over for the event.
PGA Championship winner Brooks Koepka can be at 4 over after a 72.
Solely Rahm’s report spherical bettered the 65 of Alex Fitzpatrick, brother of 2022 US Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick.
Alex, 4 years Matt’s junior, is ranked 561 on the earth, however will begin on Sunday two photographs forward of his brother at 4 below.
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