The Open Championship is ongoing at Royal Birkdale Golf Club with the third round in full swing. Lucas Herbert leads at 8-under following a record-equalling 62. He starts his round at 10:50 a.m. ET (3:50 p.m. BST), holding a significant advantage as players aim to position themselves for a decisive Sunday. Plus, notable competitors remain close, including Bryson DeChambeau and Sam Burns at 5-under, who tee off slightly earlier.

Player Highlights

Scottie Scheffler is four strokes behind after back-to-back 68s, maintaining a streak of six rounds under 70 at The Open. This ties him for most consecutive rounds under 70 with several notable past champions. Despite his impressive ball-striking, his putting has not aided his defense of the title. He ranks 140th in strokes gained putting.

Players like Cameron Young have shown consistent form, shooting his second straight 67. He joins others poised to capitalize on positioning, such as Rickie Fowler, who made a strong start with three birdies early in his round.

Surprising Exits

Spectators witnessed unexpected cuts, including Matt Fitzpatrick, Aaron Rai, and Cameron Smith. Fitzpatrick, ranked highly in strokes gained categories, missed the cut for the first time this year. Similarly, other top players, including Jordan Spieth and Justin Rose, did not make it past the second round.

Course Insights and Challenges

The sixth hole has been particularly challenging for players, with notable names facing double-bogeys there. The course, however, saw low scores, with a second-round stroke average of 70.348 — a record for the second round at The Open.

Lucas Herbert made headlines not only with his score but set a new 36-hole record for Royal Birkdale, previously held at 134, underlining his strong positioning going into the weekend.

Day 3 Developments

Early in day three, golfers have started to navigate Royal Birkdale’s testing layout, with some maintaining even scores and others making modest gains. Players like Marcus Plunkett and Naoyuki Kataoka contributed early birdies, showing potential for further excitement as the day progresses.

Expected Drama

The third round could shape up to be as exciting as the previous day’s action. With players like Rory McIlroy preparing in anticipation of significant play, the stage is set for potential leaderboard shifts. The spotlight also remains on Bryson DeChambeau following his penalty yesterday, possibly drawing more attention to his group.

As Round 3 evolves, all eyes remain on the leaders and contenders as they vie for key positions. With a clear understanding of the challenges at Royal Birkdale, the players tackle Moving Day in pursuit of the Claret Jug.