JB Holmes is a shot further back at -4, before a group of three at -3 and one of four on -2 that includes Sergio Garcia – but there seems little prospect of anyone except the leading duo battling for the title on Sunday.
Advertisement
The luck of the draw is involved every year at the British Open.
Andrew Johnston, a burly, bearded Englishman who’s been a big fan favorite at Royal Troon, shot a 1-under 70 on Saturday to pull within six shots of the leaders. “I know Phil is not going to back off, he’s going to keep on trying – even after we’re done”.
“It’s nice to be able to come into a day like this knowing that I need to play good golf, get on top of my game and shoot 70”.
“I was actually more anxious about yesterday’s round than I was about these coming rounds because I feel very comfortable in the conditions to be able to shoot a number, shoot a good score”.
Spieth had the most hard time of the four, because the bad weather coincided with some struggles he’s had this week with his swing.
Jordan Spieth, who had an afternoon tee time, refused to use the weather as an excuse. Rory McIlroy, one of the biggest hitters in the world, had a drive that went only 230 yards after getting caught up in the gusts.
Looking to become the first male Swedish player to win a major, Stenson carded a third round of 68 to finish 12 under par, a shot ahead of playing partner Mickelson, who at 46 would be the fourth oldest victor of any major and oldest in the Open since 1867.
By the end of the day, the leaderboard revealed a striking divide.
Stenson took the lead for the last time with another two-shot swing on an inward par 3, and he kept it with a nifty up-and-down on the 18th for par and a 3-under 68, the second straight day that no one had a better score.
“You know when you see such a disparity between the draw and you see no name from this side of the draw popping up, it’s just frustrating”, Rose said. Duval, who shot 82 on Thursday and had no chance to make the cut, has been rehabbing a wrist injury.
On No. 4, a short par-5 downwind that played the easiest hole of the day, he drove into thick rough on the right.
“But at 4-over par, my game is not major championship-winning caliber those first two rounds”, he said.
His tee shot at the 15th wound up in thick grass left of the fairway. But all he could do was hack it into the fairway.
The 53-year-old Scotsman dropped to last place of those playing this weekend after shooting 41 on the back nine into the wind for 8-over 79 in the third round Saturday.
Mickelson’s nearest pursuer is Henrik Stenson, who is searching for his first major title. He teed off at 9:14 a.m. and shot a 65, the best round of the day.
Phil Mickelson had a one-shot lead over Henrik Stenson.
“I timed it quite well”, he said. “You were expecting possibly a downpour when you pulled the curtains up in the morning, and it wasn’t. You always felt like it was going to start at some point, but it was nice to. have a couple of birdies before it started to rain”.
“Anybody on our side of the draw that was under par has played some great golf”, Willett said. “Some draws go your way and some draws don’t”, he said. I made one or two bad swings that led to bogeys. Then this year, it’s not so much. I don’t see why he can’t do it again.
During the worst of the weather, McIlroy dropped four shots in a five-hole stretch.
“I thought it was a good round to back up the low round yesterday. It’s going to be a tough day tomorrow, long day tomorrow, but I’m looking forward to it”.
Advertisement
Mark Godich, senior editor, Sports Illustrated: I’ve been saying since Wednesday that Henrik would win, and I’m even more confident in my pick after what I witnessed on Saturday.
