Burns leads the field at Royal Birkdale
Sam Burns has taken a two-shot lead heading into the final round of the Open Championship at Royal Birkdale. Burns, who was not initially expected to compete, carded a five-under 65 in the third round, bringing his total to 10-under. This performance marks the lowest consecutive 36 holes in major championship history for Burns, following his 62 in the previous round.
Burns’ presence at the tournament was unexpected, as his wife’s due date for their daughter, Belle, was earlier in the week. However, Belle arrived 11 days early, allowing Burns to participate. His wife, Caroline, encouraged him to play, telling him to focus on the tournament.
New Zealand’s Ryan Fox and South Korea’s Kim Si-woo are currently tied for second, both at eight-under. Fox started the third round with a 62, becoming the seventh player in history to achieve such a low score at a major, and the third in 24 hours. He had a chance for a 61 but narrowly missed a 47-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole. Fox attributed his strong performance to the morning conditions, noting that the greens were softer and there was minimal wind.
Chasing pack remains in contention
Several notable players are still within striking distance. Bryson DeChambeau finished the third round with a one-under 69, placing him at six-under overall, four shots behind Burns. DeChambeau’s round could have been better or worse, but he remains a contender.
Lucas Herbert, who also had a historic 62 in a previous round, is at seven-under overall after a one-over 71 in the third round. He is three shots behind the leader. Tommy Fleetwood, a local favourite, is five shots off the lead at five-under, despite a challenging finish to his third round where he dropped two shots in his last four holes.
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler is at four-under, six shots back from Burns. Scheffler has struggled with his putting throughout the tournament, ranking 71st in strokes gained on the green among the 78 players on the scoreboard. He acknowledged that better putting could have placed him much higher on the leaderboard and will need a strong final round to challenge for the title.
Other players at four-under include Jon Rahm and Xander Schauffele. Ludvig Åberg is also at six-under, alongside DeChambeau. These players will be hoping for favourable conditions and strong performances to close the gap on Burns in the final round.
Burns’ close friend, Scheffler, recognized Burns’ talent, noting his consistent presence in recent Ryder Cups and Presidents Cups, and believes it is only a matter of time until Burns secures a major championship victory. Burns was seventh at this year’s Masters and second at the US Open.
The conditions at Royal Birkdale have been a factor, with players noting the difference between morning and afternoon play. The course is described as firm and fast, with softer greens and less wind in the mornings, which benefited early starters like Fox.
The final round will see Burns paired with Fox, setting up a direct contest for the championship.
The tournament has seen some dramatic moments, including a rules infringement involving DeChambeau in the second round, which resulted in a two-shot penalty. Despite this, DeChambeau managed to card a 69 in the third round.
The final day promises to be an exciting conclusion to the Open Championship at Royal Birkdale.
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Source: sports.yahoo.com
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.”
