Open Championship Third Round Coverage

4 weeks ago 0

The Open Championship’s third round is underway at the Royal Birkdale Golf Club. Lucas Herbert, who leads with an 8-under score, set a tournament record with a 62 in the previous round. He is scheduled to tee off at 3:50 p.m. BST.

Bryson DeChambeau remains in contention despite receiving a 2-shot penalty for a rules infraction. He is currently at 5-under and will start his round at 3:30 p.m. BST together with Sam Burns, who also shot a 62.

Watch coverage on USA Network from 5-7 a.m. ET and on NBC from 7 a.m.-3 p.m. ET. Follow updates and analysis from our writers as the competition progresses.

Current Standings

Position	Player	Country	Total	Tee Time
1	Lucas Herbert	AUS	-8	2:50 PM
T2	Ryan Gerard	USA	-6	2:40 PM
T2	Cameron Young	USA	-6	2:40 PM
T2	Jackson Suber	USA	-6	2:50 PM
T5	Bryson DeChambeau	USA	-5	2:30 PM
T5	Si Woo Kim	KOR	-5	2:20 PM
T5	Sam Burns	USA	-5	2:30 PM
T8	Jon Rahm	ESP	-4	1:35 PM

Defending Champion’s Performance

Scottie Scheffler, the defending champion, is four shots off the lead, having secured consecutive rounds of 68. He has recorded six straight rounds under 70 at The Open, tying him for second-most consecutive rounds under 70 with notable players like Nick Price and Henrik Stenson. The record, held by Ernie Els, is seven consecutive rounds.

Notable Cuts

Matt Fitzpatrick, a pre-tournament favorite, missed the cut after shooting consecutive rounds of 2-over. Other notable players who missed the cut include Aaron Rai and Cameron Smith, who finished one stroke above the required score, and Wyndham Clark, who missed by two strokes.

Course Challenges

The sixth hole has proven challenging for many players. Several competitors, including Marcus Plunkett and Brooks Koepka, struggled with double-bogeys at this par 4. Conversely, Rickie Fowler opened his round strongly with three birdies in the first five holes, putting him at 3-under for the day and the tournament.

Day 2 Highlights

Day 2 saw record-low scoring with Herbert and Burns each shooting 62. The stroke average for the day was 70.348, a significant improvement from the Day 1 average of 71.436. Herbert’s remarkable performance tied the lowest round ever recorded in a major, though he narrowly missed breaking the record.

Weekend Expectations

With players like Rory McIlroy starting the day at 1-under and local favorite Tommy Fleetwood at 4-under, anticipation for the weekend’s play is high. McIlroy, who tees off at 12:20 p.m. BST, is expected to bring his best game.

Statistical Insights

Both Jon Rahm and Scottie Scheffler are highly ranked in strokes gained tee-to-green, though their putting has been less effective. Rahm is expected to perform strongly, having a consistent approach in previous rounds, whereas Scheffler’s putting lapse might still affect his chances.

Round 3 Dynamics

Early players have already started the third round, and the early signs show a mix of birdies and bogeys. This next round will determine much of the leaderboard as renowned contenders make their move.

Spotlight on Bryson

Bryson DeChambeau finds himself under scrutiny following yesterday’s penalty. With high interest, especially around the fifth hole, spectators are eager to see how he handles today’s round.

Cameron Young’s Consistency

Cameron Young is maintaining strong momentum with a second consecutive 67. Known for his precise iron shots, Young is in a strong position, especially with his history of starting majors with rounds in the 60s.