Sam Burns holds a two-shot lead heading into the final round of The Open Championship at Royal Birkdale. Burns, who is seeking his first major title, leads Si Woo Kim and Ryan Fox after the third round. The American golfer recorded a 65 in the third round, following a 62 on Saturday.
Burns’ performance over the last two rounds, a combined 127, marks the lowest consecutive round score in men’s major history. He began his third round with four birdies within the first eight holes. After a bogey on the ninth, he recovered with seven pars and two birdies on the back nine.
Burns maintains lead
Burns was the 54-hole leader at last year’s U.S. Open, where he ultimately lost to J.J. Spaun. He has been a contender in several recent majors, including a tie for seventh at the 2026 Masters and three consecutive top-10 finishes at the U.S. Open. These past experiences are expected to be valuable as he pursues the Claret Jug.
Burns’ strong ball-striking was evident on Saturday, as he hit 17 of 18 greens in regulation. He has gained more than six strokes on approach through 54 holes. His participation in The Open followed the birth of his second child, a daughter named Belle, on July 3.
Following a challenging first round that included three consecutive bogeys, Burns received encouragement that helped him achieve an 8-under 62 on Friday. This score matched the lowest round in a major championship. Despite previous near-misses in majors, Burns expressed his focus on his own performance, stating, “I can’t control anything anyone else does.”
Fox and Kim in contention
Ryan Fox surged into a tie for second place after an impressive 62 in the third round. This score tied the best round in men’s major tournament history, making him the third player in the tournament to achieve this feat. Fox capitalized on the front nine with five birdies in the initial eight holes and concluded his round with three birdies over the final five holes.
Fox has not previously finished within the top 10 of a major championship. His best prior finish at The Open was a tie for 16th in 2019. He will need to manage the pressure of being near the top of the leaderboard on Sunday.
Si Woo Kim is also tied for second place with Fox. Kim has quietly advanced up the leaderboard with consecutive 67s. He is currently ranked 21st in the Official World Golf Ranking. Kim’s strong iron play has been a key factor in his performance this week, as he ranks third in strokes gained: approach.
Bryson DeChambeau is the only previous major winner within four shots of Burns, sitting at six-under. DeChambeau recorded a one-under 69 on Saturday. Other past major winners, including Scottie Scheffler, Xander Schauffele, and Jon Rahm, are at four-under and could contend with strong final rounds.
The final round will determine if Burns can secure his first major championship, or if one of the other contenders will emerge victorious at Royal Birkdale.
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Source: tsn.ca
Ethan Brule is a Senior Hockey Writer at CasinoNews. He covered the NHL for a national Canadian outlet. He focuses on the NHL, the Maple Leafs and Team Canada and is known for clear, deadline-driven reporting. He holds a degree in Sports Media from Toronto Metropolitan University. Now based in Toronto, he plays beer-league hockey and follows the junior ranks. “Hockey in Canada is never only about the score.”
