Viktor Hovland

Rory McIlroy and Viktor Hovland take a four-shot lead into the final round of the 150th Open Championship after a scintillating duel over the Old Course.

But a horrible chip through the green on the 16th led to a double bogey. McIlroy said at the start of the week "boring golf" was needed to win a major. The longest hole on the course. The world number six tried again to advance his ball to the green. They would stay that way for three holes, breaking the tension with a laugh and a joke while waiting on the 12th tee. The English challenge sits seven back. Others briefly challenged but then faltered in the closing holes. It went left and a double-bogey six was marked on the card as he tumbled to 11 under. A two-putt birdie heaped pressure on the Norwegian. Three putts. As the eagle dropped, Hovland smiled, as Hovland does. The pair locked on 15 under. McIlroy visited the sand for the first time this week, with an errant tee shot.

Moving day brings new leaders after a pair of 66s from Rory McIlroy and Viktor Hovland, with Cameron Young and Cameron Smith four shots back.

McIlroy and Hovland, Ryder Cup teammates, reached that point while still in the midst of open warfare. I keep telling myself and keep saying all the time that you want to get yourself to the back nine on a Saturday with an opportunity to do something great. The 2019 champion believes he has “no chance” of a second Open victory. “I felt like through the middle of the front nine I was just going along OK, not doing anything great,” Lowry explained. He leapt with joy at Augusta National having found the bottom of the cup at the 72nd hole from a greenside bunker. The former world No 1 did make a birdie at the last after a topped drive but at 10 under requires snookers. Hatton looked on at the slow play of his partner, Talor Gooch, with murderous intent. McIlroy’s subsequent advantage, earned at the 14th, was cancelled out at the penultimate hole. The Norwegian rattled off four birdies in a row from the 3rd. What a mockery was made of that concept at the 10th, where he holed out for an eagle. Cameron Young and Cameron Smith are closest to the leaders, at 12 under. The Spaniard would surely approve of McIlroy claiming number five at St Andrews. In the space of almost eight occasionally painful years, McIlroy has never been closer to achieving such a feat.

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Kevin Kisner leapt up the leaderboard with a best-of-the-day 65, having gone out in 30 when there was no wind. His day was summed up by a birdie attempt at the last ducking left of the hole. Tommy Fleetwood, the 2019 runner-up, finished strongly, picking up three birdies in the last five holes, as he signed for a 66 to give himself an outside chance of a first major win. All that resulted in a burst of four straight birdies before adding another gain at the tenth. He then topped his tee shot at the last but still birdied it. He wasn’t far away from another eagle after finding the heart of the 14th with a majestic second short, but a birdie there gave him the outright lead for the first time.

LEADERBOARD –16 McIlroy, Hovland; -12 Young, C. Smith; -11 Scheffler, S.W. Kim; -10 Johnson SELECTED OTHERS –9 Fitzpatrick; -8 Spieth; -3 MacIntyre; +2 Law.

Unfortunate to find sand with his drive, he promptly holed out to move into a share of top spot. Others were hampered by not following the same approach. He is joined on 16-under by Hovland, the prodigious Norwegian seeking to make his own major breakthrough. "The wind was favourable to drive a couple of greens like nine and 12 and I took advantage of some of the holes around the turn. "It was a great group to be part of and we get to do it all again tomorrow." Without a major for eight years, but eternally popular with the galleries and increasingly a great champion of the game off the course, McIlroy seized the initiative on Saturday at the 150th Open.

Ulsterman joint leader heading into final round as he chases fifth major at St Andrews.

World number one Scottie Scheffler was among those who threatened to make a quantum leap forward on moving day. I just need to go out in my own little world and shoot a good score that I know I can do around here.” A splashed in eagle from the bunker on 10 - where Shane Lowry had earlier chipped in the second of two eagles back to back - moved McIlroy to the top of the leaderboard after playing partner Viktor Hovland had earlier made his move with four birdies on the spin from the third.

Rory McIlroy moved into the void left by the departure of Tiger Woods at The Open, holing a bunker shot for eagle and revving up the gallery at St. Andrews ...

He missed a 10-foot birdie chance on the 16th and then three-putted the 17th for a bogey. Johnson also within three shots until a bogey on the 13th and another on the par-5 14th, where his long eagle putt raced up a hill, across the green and into a pot bunker. Smith missed a short birdie chance on the 18th and had a 73. He played a safe pitch onto the green and two-putted for bogey. Cameron Smith, who started with a two-shot lead, took double bogey on the 13th hole when he tried a bold play with his feet in a pot bunker. "But at the same time, I need to keep in my own little world and try to play a good round of golf. McIlroy finally caught him by holing out from a pot bunker some 80 feet away for eagle on the 10th hole, setting off a roar that could be heard all the way back at the Royal & Ancient clubhouse. Hovland, already with six victories worldwide in his four years since leaving Oklahoma State as a U.S. Amateur champion, could appreciate the support for McIlroy and all he has done. McIlroy holed a bunker shot for eagle on the 10th hole that he described as part skill and part luck, but it was pure magic. "I think it's appreciating the moment as well and appreciating the fact that it's unbelievably cool to have a chance to win The Open at St Andrews," McIlroy said. And I'm going to try to make a dream come true tomorrow." Both made birdie on the final hole for a 6-under 66.

Rory McIlroy and Viktor Hovland are tied at the top of the Open Championship leaderboard heading into the final day of play at St Andrews, as both shot a ...

The first blemish on McIlroy's card came on the par four seventeenth as he picked up a bogey five, whilst Hovland tapped in for par to leave the leading two tied at the top heading to the 18th. In the midst of the chaos, Hovland himself picked up a birdie to leave the playing partners level at the top on 15-under. Overnight leader Smith meanwhile was struggling to get going in the final group, and after 12 holes found himself level-par whilst McIlroy and Hovland enjoyed a birdie fest ahead. After three straight pars, the Northern Irishman hit two mammoth hits down the par five 14th to leave him on the green in two. The Northern Irishman had of course done that four times over, and looked in no mood to be stopped in his tracks to add a fifth. Hovland, himself put a superb third round together after also shooting a six-under new 66 to leave him tied at the top.

Rory McIlroy moved into the void left by the departure of Tiger Woods at The Open, holing a bunker shot for eagle and revving up the gallery at St. Andrews ...

He missed a 10-foot birdie chance on the 16th and then three-putted the 17th for a bogey. Johnson also within three shots until a bogey on the 13th and another on the par-5 14th, where his long eagle putt raced up a hill, across the green and into a pot bunker. Smith missed a short birdie chance on the 18th and had a 73. He played a safe pitch onto the green and two-putted for bogey. Cameron Smith, who started with a two-shot lead, took double bogey on the 13th hole when he tried a bold play with his feet in a pot bunker. "But at the same time, I need to keep in my own little world and try to play a good round of golf. McIlroy finally caught him by holing out from a pot bunker some 80 feet away for eagle on the 10th hole, setting off a roar that could be heard all the way back at the Royal & Ancient clubhouse. Hovland, already with six victories worldwide in his four years since leaving Oklahoma State as a U.S. Amateur champion, could appreciate the support for McIlroy and all he has done. McIlroy holed a bunker shot for eagle on the 10th hole that he described as part skill and part luck, but it was pure magic. "I think it's appreciating the moment as well and appreciating the fact that it's unbelievably cool to have a chance to win The Open at St Andrews," McIlroy said. And I'm going to try to make a dream come true tomorrow." Both made birdie on the final hole for a 6-under 66.

ST. ANDREWS, Scotland (AP) — Rory McIlroy moved into the void left by the departure of Tiger Woods at the British Open, holing a bunker shot for eagle and ...

He missed a 10-foot birdie chance on the 16th and then three-putted the 17th for a bogey. Johnson also within three shots until a bogey on the 13th and another on the par-5 14th, where his long eagle putt raced up a hill, across the green and into a pot bunker. Smith missed a short birdie chance on the 18th and had a 73. This is his first big moment in a major, and he sounded up to the task. He played a safe pitch onto the green and two-putted for bogey. Instead of birdie, he had to scramble for bogey. He also three-putted from 30 feet to start his round and made just two birdies. “But at the same time, I need o keep in my own little world and try to play a good round of golf. Cameron Smith, who started with a two-shot lead, took double bogey on the 13th hole when he tried a bold play with his feet in a pot bunker. McIlroy finally caught him by holing out from a pot bunker some 80 feet away for eagle on the 10th hole, setting off a roar that could be heard all the way back at the Royal & Ancient clubhouse. The R&A set the tee times that way so they would pass each other. Hopefully, we can push ourselves tomorrow.”

The reigning Champion Golfer of the Year and the man who holds the joint-lead heading into the final day of The 150th Open turned professional on the same day ...

The 150th Open The 150th Open “It was cool to trade some holes with Rory as well. “There are a lot of things that can happen,” Hovland said. I have just got to play my game and not worry about anything else. “I do not mind it,” he said.

Viktor Hovland is eyeing victory at the 2022 Open Championship. His coach, GOLF Top Teacher Jeff Smith, explains how he got there.

During his putting warmups, Smith says Hovland will “calibrate” his putting by hitting 12 putts from all around the hole: four putts from each of five, seven, and nine feet. Hovland will read each putt using AimPoint, and then check the read using a level. Doing the boring stuff behind the scenes, and getting a little better each day along the way. “Around the greens we spent countless hours refining his chipping and bunker action,” Smith says. “We’ve worked to neutralize that move so he can work the ball both ways and hit more of a straight ball as his stock shot.” “He has always had a good stroke,” Smith adds. Hovland’s golf swing technique features a strong trail hand grip, and he holds off the clubface during his release. But those technical elements in his golf swing also show up in shorter shots around the green. I couldn’t hit a 3-wood off the deck, I couldn’t get it airborne, it was so frustrating because I would watch my peers and they would just hit these high draws off of the ground onto the green on par-5s.” “On high GIR holes, we’d play competitive putting games and drills around the potential hole locations. And for Hovland, the lowest ebb of his career lives long in the memory. Doing that meant providing more structure to what, and how, Hovland would practice.

Both players carded rounds of 66 to pull four shots clear of the pack.

His back nine could never live up to what went before but three birdies and two bogeys saw him catapult himself up the leaderboard from joint-last to tied 13th at the close. Rory McIlroy will change that with a win on Sunday. Start your Independent Premium subscription today. I just need to go out in my own little world and shoot a good score that I know I can do around here.” His outward total of 30 was two short of the record lowest score for an Open front nine – set by Denis Durnian at Birkdale in 1983 – and one off Tony Jacklin’s St Andrews front-nine Open best in 1970. It included six birdies in his first eight holes and frustratingly for the 38-year-old he also left two good other opportunities marginally close in a remarkable display of consistently good putting.

Five days after describing winning The Open on the Old Course as golf's Holy Grail, Rory McIlroy will take a share of the lead into the final round of the ...

Rory McIlroy will change that with a win on Sunday. His back nine could never live up to what went before but three birdies and two bogeys saw him catapult himself up the leaderboard from joint-last to tied 13th at the close. His outward total of 30 was two short of the record lowest score for an Open front nine – set by Denis Durnian at Birkdale in 1983 – and one off Tony Jacklin’s St Andrews front-nine Open best in 1970. I just need to go out in my own little world and shoot a good score that I know I can do around here.” Round of the day Shot of the day

Rory McIlroy moved into the void left by the departure of Tiger Woods at the 150th Open on Saturday as he took a share of the lead.

He missed a 10-foot birdie chance on the 16th and then three-putted the 17th for a bogey. Johnson was also within three shots until a bogey on the 13th and another on the par-5 14th, where his long eagle putt raced up a hill, across the green and into a pot bunker. Smith missed a short birdie chance on the 18th and had a 73. This is his first big moment in a major, and he sounded up to the task. He played a safe pitch onto the green and two-putted for bogey. Cameron Smith, who started with a two-shot lead, took double bogey on the 13th hole when he tried a bold play with his feet in a pot bunker.

At the 150th British Open, the 33-year-old from Northern Ireland is trying to end a drought, while the 24-year-old from Norway is looking for his first ...

“Yeah, I mean, it’s pretty crazy from where I grew up and so far away from playing the PGA Tour, European Tour, for that matter major championships,” he said. “Certainly there wasn’t a lot of chat going on through the last few holes this evening either,” McIlroy said. “Talked about a whole bunch of stuff,” McIlroy said about Saturday. “Talked about footwear. Crowds along the fence beside No. 18 began to thin even if empty cans and cups on the ground did not. “I think for sure,” he said. “I think we were obviously both kind of doing our own thing,” Hovland said. It probably keeps both of us a little loose.” They drove the hell out of No. 18 on this course full of drivable par-4s, and then they walked, McIlroy looking up at the Rusacks Hotel for the windows from which his parents, wife and daughter watch. So it was a good mix.” It has led him all the way to this hopeful, precarious Sunday: sesquicentennial Open, runaway sentiment, tied for the Sunday morning lead with 24-year-old Norwegian phenom Viktor Hovland at 16 under par, well out ahead of Cameron Smith and Cameron Young at 12 under, Scottie Scheffler and Si Woo Kim at 11 under. Those 29 help make the meaning inflate and the noise boom. Those 29 color his pursuit of a drought-destroyer at the world’s foremost course and event.

McIlroy leapfrogged to the top of the leaderboard with a stunning bunker shot on No. 10 for eagle. He and Hovland were tied heading into the final round on ...

But McIlroy made birdies of his own on Nos. 5, 6 and 9 before his eagle from the sand on No. 10 and another birdie on No. 15 that gave him back the outright lead. McIlroy might be nine years older, but he and Hovland developed a good rapport after playing (and losing) on the same Ryder Cup squad for Europe last year. It was not quite enough to shake free of Hovland in the third round. McIlroy is trying to end an eight-year major drought by prevailing at the ultimate Open venue. “Talked about a whole bunch of stuff,” McIlroy said. The weather is forecast to remain relatively benign on Sunday, with moderate winds and temperatures in the mid-70s. “There’s a lot of things that can happen,” Hovland said. “I love that I have got so much support,” he said. But Hovland, a 24-year-old Norwegian who excelled at Oklahoma State before turning professional in 2019, did not let McIlroy enjoy the lead alone for long. McIlroy, from Northern Ireland, was certainly the crowd favorite, but Hovland, a dynamic presence, did not shrink from the challenge. He and Hovland were tied heading into the final round on Sunday. “It was skill to get it somewhere close,” McIlroy said.

Rory McIlroy and Viktor Hovland are tied after 54 holes at the Open Championship, but Hovland doesn't mind playing the underdog role.

“But that doesn’t mean I’m going to hold back tomorrow.” “What a wild 2 on that hole,” Hovland said. “I’m pretty good at doing nothing,” he said. At the end of the day, I’ve just got to play my game and not worry about anything else.” They tee off at 2:50 p.m. local on Sunday (9:50 a.m. ET), which means they have lots of time to kill. His best run this year came in the spring, when he had strong finishes in three-straight marquee events: T4 at the Genesis Invitational, T2 at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, T9 at the Players Championship. And at the end of the day, well, there’s still some shouts there for me as well. He’s tied for 12th twice, most recently in last year’s Open Championship. McIlroy, who grew up in Northern Ireland, will be the fan favorite, as the former World No. 1 (and current No. 2) is looking for his first major title in eight years. They started Saturday tied at 10 under, three behind Cameron Smith, but shot matching 66s and now go off in the final pairing on Sunday afternoon. He’s made nine of 11 cuts but has just four top 25s and zero top 10s. Crowds, anywhere, are often pro-Rory, but the 33 year old received one of the biggest ovations of the day when he holed out from the bunker for eagle on the par-4 10th, which gave him a brief lead.

Viktor Hovland and Rory McIlroy are the final twosome Sunday in the 150th Open. About all they will share ahead of that 2:50 p.m. BST tee time, however, ...

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Rory McIlroy has said winning The 150th Open "would mean everything" to him after he moved into a share of the lead following a superb third round at St ...

Viktor got off to a great start and we were just sort of feeding off one another, we'll do it all again tomorrow." I've honestly come into this tournament with some lousy performances, so I'm glad it turned around this week. "I'm just trying to make the most of it and I'm going to have a lot of fun tomorrow." "It's pretty outrageous, to be fair. On the prospect of playing with Hovland again on Sunday, the 33-year-old added: "It was a great group to be a part of as well. Rory McIlroy and Viktor Hovland share the lead after 54 holes of The 150th Open at St Andrews; pair on 16 under and four clear of nearest challengers; McIlroy: "I just need to do it for one more day"; watch the final round live on Sky Sports The Open from 8am on Sunday

When Rory McIlroy last landed a Major as far back as Valhalla in 2014, Viktor Hovland was a 17-year-old who had just won the Norwegian Amateur. Skip advert.

Hovland even admitted that he and Rory might make a solid Ryder Cup pairing in the years to come. “Rory is a good guy, so I don't mind saying good shot to him. So it was a good mix.” Hopefully we could have a similar impact to when Henrik won The Open a few years ago, and just get more people to play golf and watch it on TV.” Rory and Harry (Diamond) are good guys, and we chatted it up a little bit. “It's pretty crazy from where I grew up and so far away from playing the PGA Tour, European Tour, for that matter Major championships.

Viktor Hovland has never been closer to winning one of golf's four majors than he is heading into the fourth round at the 2022 Open Championship.

He also carded the lowest 72-hole score by an amateur in the U.S. Open that year, turning in a 4-under 280 to break Jack Nicklaus' previous record of 2-under 282 set in 1960. Hovland attended Oklahoma State from 2016-19. (Collin Morikawa won with a score of 15-under 265). Hovland thus far has turned in rounds of 4-under 68, 6-under 66 and 6-under 66. Hovland, a fourth-year professional on the PGA Tour, is tied atop the leaderboard with Rory McIlroy at 16 under par after three rounds. No, Hovland has never won the Open Championship. He has never won any of golf's four majors, which include the Masters, PGA Championship, U.S. Open and Open Championship.

Hovland, a fourth-year professional on the PGA Tour, is tied atop the leaderboard with Rory McIlroy at 16 under par after three rounds. He stands to enjoy his ...

He also carded the lowest 72-hole score by an amateur in the U.S. Open that year, turning in a 4-under 280 to break Jack Nicklaus' previous record of 2-under 282 set in 1960. Hovland attended Oklahoma State from 2016-19. (Collin Morikawa won with a score of 15-under 265). Hovland thus far has turned in rounds of 4-under 68, 6-under 66 and 6-under 66. Hovland, a fourth-year professional on the PGA Tour, is tied atop the leaderboard with Rory McIlroy at 16 under par after three rounds. No, Hovland has never won the Open Championship. He has never won any of golf's four majors, which include the Masters, PGA Championship, U.S. Open and Open Championship.

Rory McIlroy and Viktor Hovland are tied at the top of the Open Championship leaderboard ahead of what looks set to be an enthralling final day at St ...

Because on a lovely day, they did not so much as have a duel in the sun as fun in the sun. When he won The Open in 2014 and followed it up a month later with a victory at the US PGA Championship at Valhalla, the only debate was about how many more he would add to his collection of four. And there is no doubt McIlroy likes to be in relaxing company as he swaggers his way around the golf course. And, of course, there are many good judges who simply cannot believe McIlroy has not won a Major in eight years. In fact, there are some good judges who fancied the 24-year-old Norwegian to win a Major before now. And they will be flying it again in what promises to be an enthralling final round.