Amidst the Scottish mist and relentless rain, Billy Horschel surged to the top of the leaderboard at The Open, clutching a one-shot lead as we head into what promises to be a spectacular Super Sunday.
Horschel’s four-under performance places him ahead of a bunched pack of six pursuers, all within a whisper at three-under, including the likes of Justin Rose and Xander Schauffele.
Top Stats of the Day
It was a day for the record books, highlighted by Si Woo Kim’s stunning hole-in-one on the 238-yard 17th hole.
Smashing a 3-iron, Kim’s ace is the longest since record-keeping began in 1981, and the first at Royal Troon’s 17th in recent memory.
Meanwhile, the par-4 11th was a monstrous challenge, averaging 4.66 strokes, with Joaquin Niemann enduring a particularly brutal 9.
Lawrence and Burns Light It Up
Thriston Lawrence and Sam Burns came out swinging, each shooting electrifying rounds of 65 to rocket up the standings.
Starting ten shots behind the leader, they now find themselves tied for second, a testament to their tenacity and skill.
Ewen Ferguson quietly crafted a bogey-free 71, the only blemish-free card of the day.
Horschel the Hero
As the weather gods unleashed their fury, Horschel turned adversity into opportunity.
Teeing off with Justin Rose just as the heavens opened, Horschel embraced the challenge, firing birdies on 4, 6, 7, and 9.
His back nine was a gritty display of survival, marked by five crucial up-and-downs. Despite bogeys on 11 and 18, his 69 was a masterclass in resilience.
“This round in The Open is by far the best I’ve played in a major. I had to grind out a score coming in,” Horschel reflected.
“It would be the biggest win of my career. I’ve won a lot of great events, but this one would top them all. It’s something I’ve always wanted in my professional golf career.”
The Chasing Pack
While Horschel battled the elements in the afternoon, the morning wave took full advantage of the milder conditions.
Lawrence turned in 30 strokes, adding a level-par back nine to sign for a 65. Burns, having clawed his way back from a dismal start, matched Lawrence’s score with a flurry of birdies.
Russell Henley joined the fray with a 66, thanks to a trio of birdies early on. Rose, partnering with Horschel, fought his way to a 73, encapsulating the day’s emotional rollercoaster.
Daniel Brown, flirting with the outright lead, faltered late with a bogey on 17 and a double-bogey on 18, yet remains well-positioned for Sunday.
He’ll tee off alongside world number one Scottie Scheffler, who shot 71 and described the back nine as the toughest he’s ever faced.
Major Contenders Still in the Mix
Shane Lowry, the 36-hole leader, stumbled to a 77 but stays in contention. Schauffele’s steady 69 and Scheffler’s near-impossible shot on the wind-battered 17th keep them in the hunt.
Meanwhile, seasoned pros Adam Scott, Justin Thomas, and Matthew Jordan lurk at level-par, four strokes adrift, with South Korea’s Sungjae Im and Byeong Hun An hoping to make their move from one-over.
Si Woo Kim’s Magical Moment
Si Woo Kim delivered the shot of the day—and perhaps the tournament—with his ace on the 17th.
His 3-iron struck the green and rolled true to the delight of the crowd. “I saw the ball go over the fringe and thought that must be maybe inside 20 feet,” he recounted. “Then I heard the cheers.”
Battle for the Silver Medal
The amateur showdown saw Calum Scott pulling ahead with a solid 70, giving him a three-stroke cushion for the Silver Medal.
Scott’s poised play on the front nine and steady finish on the challenging back nine leaves him in control heading into Sunday.
As we gear up for the final round, the excitement is palpable. With Horschel at the helm of a closely contested leaderboard and numerous top-tier golfers in close pursuit, Royal Troon promises a thrilling conclusion.
Who will triumph and lift the Claret Jug? Stay tuned.
