American Brian Harman shrugged off the strain utilized by Jon Rahm’s course-record 63 to take a five-shot lead into the ultimate spherical of the British Open, whereas Jason Day stays contained in the top-five.
Regardless of two bogeys early in his third spherical on Saturday, Harman, who has by no means gained a significant, bounced again with 4 birdies to shoot a 69 and transfer to 12-under par.
No participant has blown a five-shot lead heading into the ultimate spherical of a significant since Frenchman Jean van de Velde’s notorious collapse on the ultimate gap of the 1999 British Open.
Final yr’s runner-up Cameron Younger is Harman’s nearest challenger on seven beneath after the American’s third-round 66.
Day is at five-under following a two-under spherical that included 4 birdies and two bogeys.
Fellow Australian Min Woo Lee dropped off the tempo in a single day with a one-over spherical of 72 that left him 10 pictures behind Harman.
“I really feel like I’m out of the query,” Lee mentioned. “I’ve bought to shoot a extremely, actually low rating tomorrow, and it’s doable. You get off to a sizzling begin and you are able to do it.
“Simply didn’t have it as we speak.”
Cameron Smith shot one-under to maneuver inside the highest 25, whereas Adam Scott is a distant three-over after an even-par third spherical.
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LIVE SCORES
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DAY 2 WRAP: Aussie ‘massive sport hunter’ lights up Open in wild rise; Smith’s clutch stunner as Day surges
Aussie oblivious after sinking ace | 01:09
It was Masters champion Rahm who produced the standout spherical of the match to this point, selecting up six pictures on the again 9 to maintain alive his possibilities of a 3rd main.
Harman, ranked twenty sixth on the planet, had pulled away from the sphere with a surprising second spherical of 65 in troublesome circumstances on Friday.
However persistent rain that softened up the Royal Liverpool course for a day of low scoring supplied the chance for the chasing pack to shut in, significantly when Harman bought off to a nervy begin.
The 36-year-old had solely dropped one shot in his opening 36 holes, however bogeyed the primary and fourth as his lead was reduce to 2 pictures at one stage.
Nevertheless, Harman’s easy placing stroke quickly discovered its vary as he bought again to stage par for the day by the flip, with birdies at 5 and 9.
Again-to-back birdies on the twelfth and thirteenth turned the screw earlier than a formidable up and down to save lots of par on the final.
“It could have been very easy to let the wheels begin spinning and actually sort of let it get uncontrolled, however I simply sort of doubled down on my routine,” mentioned Harman. “Actually happy with the way in which that I hung in there.”
Younger was solely denied the Claret Jug 12 months in the past by Smith’s record-equalling whole of 20 beneath par at St Andrews.
The 26-year-old confirmed his ability on hyperlinks golf as soon as extra with six birdies.
– Rahm on a roll –
Rahm had narrowly averted lacking the reduce on Friday following rounds of 74 and 70.
The world quantity three was pissed off by the brutality of Royal Liverpool’s 82 bunkers throughout his first spherical and missed 4 quick putts in his second as he sneaked into the weekend at two over par.
However he bounced again in spectacular style — lacking out on matching the bottom rating in main championship historical past by a single shot.
“That’s the perfect spherical I’ve performed on a hyperlinks course ever,” mentioned Rahm. “It feels actually good, however it’s loads of work to do tomorrow.”
– McIlroy fades –
Rory McIlroy had the mass galleries following the Northern Irishman believing he may finish a nine-year main drought when he picked up three pictures within the opening 5 holes to maneuver to 4 beneath.
However the world quantity two didn’t construct on that momentum as he performed the ultimate 13 holes at one over to stay 9 pictures adrift of the lead at three beneath.
He then walked off the course and rejected all interviews put up play.
Residence favorite Tommy Fleetwood additionally suffered a irritating day regardless of raucous assist from the locals.
The Englishman, who hails from close by Southport, was stage par for the day to sit down in a five-strong group at 5 beneath.
That features Viktor Hovland, after the world quantity 5 shot a 66 to stay in rivalry for his first main title.
World primary Scottie Scheffler is not going to be including to his sole main on the 2022 Masters.
A one-over-par spherical for the American on Saturday pushed him to 4 over for the match.
PGA Championship winner Brooks Koepka can also be at 4 over after a 72. Solely Rahm’s report spherical bettered the 65 of Alex Fitzpatrick, brother of 2022 US Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick.
Alex, 4 years Matt’s junior, is ranked 561 on the planet, however will begin on Sunday two pictures forward of his brother at 4 beneath.
HOW TO WATCH & BROADCAST TIMES
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Closing Spherical 6pm – 4am (Fox Sports activities 505/Kayo)
Monday
4am-6am Stay From The Open (Fox Sports activities 505/Kayo)
ROUND 3 SCORES
1 Brian Harman 67-65-69—201
T4 Jason Day 72-67-69—208
T17 Min Woo Lee 71-68-72—211
T24 Cameron Smith 72-72-68—212
T41 Ryan Fox (NZ) 78-67-69—214
T57 Adam Scott 72-73-71—216
FINAL ROUND TEE TIMES AEST
6.20pm Victor Perez, Adam Scott
9pm Patrick Reed, Cameron Smith
9.20pm Rickie Fowler, Min Woo Lee
10.55pm Jason Day, Antoine Rozner