American Sam Burns has secured a two-stroke lead heading into the final round of The Open Championship at Royal Birkdale. New Zealand’s Ryan Fox moved into second place after a strong third round, equalling a record low score. The tournament has seen several notable performances and a tight leaderboard, setting the stage for a competitive finale.
Burns, who previously finished as runner-up at the US Open, followed his second-round 62 with a five-under 65. This performance brought his total to ten under par. His combined 127 shots from the second and third rounds mark the lowest total across any two rounds in men’s major championship history. Burns will aim to secure his first major title on Sunday.
Initially, Burns’ participation at Birkdale was uncertain due to the expected arrival of his second child. However, his daughter Belle arrived early on 3 July, allowing him to compete. His wife, Caroline, encouraged him to play. Burns expressed a sense of freedom in his play, stating he has nothing to lose in the final round.
Fox’s Record-Equalling Performance
Ryan Fox of New Zealand made a significant move up the leaderboard, climbing to eight under par. He achieved a record-equalling 62 in the third round, matching the low score set by Lucas Herbert and Burns earlier in the tournament. This brings the total number of 62s in men’s major championship history to eight, with five having been recorded before this event.
Fox’s impressive round was aided by tranquil early conditions at the links course. He is now tied with South Korea’s Kim Si-woo for second place, two shots behind Burns. American Ryan Gerard and Australian halfway leader Lucas Herbert are both at seven under.
Another New Zealander, Kazuma Kobori, also advanced significantly during the third round. Kobori carded a three-under 67, moving him to four under for the tournament and placing him within the top 20.
DeChambeau and Fleetwood in Contention
American Bryson DeChambeau remains a prominent figure in the competition, despite a two-stroke penalty incurred late in the second round. DeChambeau, a two-time US Open champion, shot a one-under 69 in the third round, placing him four shots behind Burns. He is the only player within the top ten with prior major championship experience.
DeChambeau’s third round included three birdies and two bogeys. Following his round, he spent time in the R&A‘s office, reportedly requesting his Friday scorecard, a request that was declined. He did not speak to the media after his round, instead heading to the practice range and signing autographs for young fans.
Local favourite Tommy Fleetwood, who grew up near Royal Birkdale, is five shots adrift of Burns. Fleetwood’s hopes were affected by late bogeys on the 15th and 18th holes in his third-round 69. Despite this, he expressed his long-held dream of winning The Open, a vision he has maintained since childhood.
Fleetwood’s strong connection to the area was evident throughout the week, with large galleries showing unconditional support. He described being within one shot of the lead on the back nine as close to his golfing utopia, with the ultimate goal being to hold the Claret Jug.
The final round promises an intense conclusion, with the leaderboard featuring several top players vying for the championship. Burns is scheduled to tee off with Fox at 14:20 BST.
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Source: bbc.com
