Sam Burns holds a two-shot lead heading into the final round of The Open Championship at Royal Birkdale. The American golfer carded a five-under 65 on Saturday, bringing his total to 10 under par. New Zealand’s Ryan Fox and South Korea’s Kim Si-woo are tied for second at eight under.
Burns’ performance is particularly notable as he was not initially planning to compete in the tournament. His wife, Caroline, was due to give birth to their second child, Belle, this week. However, Belle arrived almost two weeks early, on July 3, allowing Burns to participate. His wife encouraged him to play, telling him she would manage things at home.
The 29-year-old golfer, who finished runner-up at last month’s US Open, has expressed a sense of freedom in his play, believing he has nothing to lose. Burns’ total of 127 shots across the second and third rounds (62, 65) marks the lowest two-round total in men’s major championship history. He will begin the final round paired with Fox at 14:20 BST.
Local Hopes and Notable Contenders
Local favorite Tommy Fleetwood, who grew up three miles from the course in Southport, is five shots behind Burns at five under par. Fleetwood’s hopes for an emotional victory were somewhat dampened by late bogeys on the 15th and 18th holes during his third-round 69. Despite this, he remains optimistic, stating he was within one shot of the lead on the back nine of The Open.
The galleries at Royal Birkdale have shown strong support for Fleetwood throughout the week, with loud cheers accompanying his birdies, particularly on the par-four fifth and par-three seventh holes. He moved within one of the lead after a birdie on the par-four 11th, but the late bogeys affected his standing.
Two-time US Open champion Bryson DeChambeau is also in contention, four shots behind Burns at six under par. DeChambeau shot a one-under 69 on Saturday. He faced questions regarding his behavior after being docked two shots on Friday for a rules infringement. Despite some barracking from the crowd, DeChambeau appeared focused during his round.
Following his round, DeChambeau spent time in the R&A’s office and reportedly requested his Friday scorecard, a request that was declined. He then bypassed media interactions for the sixth consecutive round at a major, instead heading to the practice range and signing autographs for young fans.
Sweden’s Ludvig Åberg is also at six under after a third-round 67. Other notable players include Scottie Scheffler, Jon Rahm, and Xander Schauffele, all at four under. Scheffler, last year’s winner, struggled with putting but noted the significant difference in course conditions between morning and afternoon play.
Changing Conditions and Strategic Play
The changing conditions at Royal Birkdale have played a role in scoring. Fox, who is tied for second, took advantage of sedate morning conditions to shoot a 62, which was the third 62 of this Open. He started the day eight shots back at even par but catapulted up the leaderboard due to the softer greens and minimal wind in the morning.
Fox highlighted that the course is firm and fast, but the greens are softer in the mornings, allowing for better scoring. This contrasts with the afternoon, when conditions become more challenging. Burns’ close friend Scheffler acknowledged Burns’ talent, noting his consistent presence in recent Ryder and Presidents Cups, suggesting it’s only a matter of time until he secures a major victory.
While Burns leads, the tight leaderboard suggests an open competition for Sunday’s finale. DeChambeau, the only player in the top 10 with major-winning experience, remains a threat. Other home players like Robert MacIntyre, Tyrrell Hatton, Matt Wallace, and Alex Fitzpatrick saw their challenges falter, with MacIntyre finishing at three under and Hatton dropping to one over.
Burns’ unexpected presence and strong performance, influenced by the early arrival of his daughter, add an intriguing storyline to the championship. He expressed his determination to execute his game plan on Sunday, stating he can accept the outcome regardless of whether he takes home the hardware.
Source: bbc.com