Burns Leads After Strong Third Round
Sam Burns has secured a two-shot lead heading into the final round of The Open Championship at Royal Birkdale Golf Club. Burns carded a 5-under par 65 in the third round, bringing his total to 10-under 200. His performance included a clean back nine on Saturday, positioning him favorably for his first major title.
Burns’ recent form has been notable, including tying for second in the Masters and finishing as the runner-up in the U.S. Open earlier this year. His 62-65 run over the past two rounds marks the lowest consecutive 36-hole stretch in major championship history. He will be paired with Ryan Fox for the final round.
Burns was not initially expected to be in England this week, as he was awaiting the birth of his daughter. However, her early arrival allowed him to compete, and he now leads the field.
Key Challengers and Notable Performances
Ryan Fox of New Zealand began the day with a 62, matching a major championship record and becoming the seventh player in history, and third in 24 hours, to achieve such a low score at a major. Fox is currently at 8-under, tied with Si Woo Kim of South Korea, who posted a 67 in the third round. Kim’s 8-under total places him just two shots behind Burns.
Lucas Herbert, who had a historic 62 on Friday, finished his third round with a 1-over 71, his worst round of the week. He is now at 7-under overall, three shots back from the lead, and tied for fourth place with Ryan Gerard, who shot a 69.
Bryson DeChambeau, who was involved in a controversy following a two-stroke penalty in the second round, posted a 1-under 69. Despite the penalty, DeChambeau is at 6-under for the week, four shots behind Burns. He is tied for sixth place with Ludvig Aberg of Sweden and first-round leader Jackson Suber.
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, the defending champion, struggled with his putting throughout the round, finishing with an even-par 70. He remains at 4-under, acknowledging frustration with his score but feeling confident about his overall game.
Looking Ahead to the Final Round
Burns expressed his strategy for the final day, stating, “That will be the game plan for tomorrow; just try to go out there and give myself as many looks as possible on the greens and see what happens.” He has five victories on the PGA Tour, though none this year.
Gerard, who is within range of the lead, believes his game is well-suited for links golf, noting his comfort with various shot types. Suber, despite being considered a dark horse, feels comfortable in contention after recent experiences.
The final round will see Burns and Fox paired together, with other contenders like Kim, Herbert, and DeChambeau aiming to close the gap. Scheffler, despite being 4-under, will require a strong finish on Sunday to make a run at the jug.
The competition remains tight as players prepare for the decisive final round on Sunday, July 19.
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Source: sports.yahoo.com
