NORTH BERWICK, SCOTLAND — Two fog delays brought on by the notorious Scottish harle off the North Sea on Saturday left Matt Fitzpatrick and Michael Thorbjornsen on the high of the leaderboard forward of a protracted remaining day earlier than heading to the south of England for the ultimate main of the 12 months after the Scottish Open.
Thorbjornsen birdied the ultimate two holes to achieve 11 beneath by means of 13 holes, however Fitzpatrick missed the inexperienced on the eighth and play was stopped after failing to avoid wasting par.
On Sunday, it is going to be as much as Thorbjornsen and maybe a dozen different gamers to earn one of many three remaining spots on the British Open by high finishers who haven’t but been exempted.
The third spherical was scheduled to renew at 7 a.m., adopted by a remaining spherical of threes from the primary tee. As summer time sunlight hours have elevated, it’s anticipated that there might be no issues with the end.
However the choice of candidates was as unpredictable because the climate.
Fifteen gamers had been separated by three strokes, and Rory McIlroy was not included on this group. He missed a tap-in-par, duffed a wedge off the tee on the par-3, hacked by means of the comb only a few ft from the golf green on the par-5 seventh, and went the opposite manner for bogey.
McIlroy completed his spherical at 3 over and needed to make a 20-foot par putt on the eighth and remaining gap to remain 5 strokes forward of the chief. He began the spherical with a shared lead.
Johnny Keefer was one of many fortunate gamers to complete with a spherical of 64 at 10-under 200.
“I believe we had the mindset this week that issues might change,” Keefer mentioned. “We knew it was going to be a bit chilly, so we might put together a bit bit. Yeah, it obtained windy. The wind route has modified 3 times within the week we have been right here.”
He hopes to place that into observe subsequent week at Royal Birkdale. Kiefer is the third alternate on the British Open.
Additionally at 10 beneath with three rounds remaining are defending champion Chris Gotterup (by means of 10 holes), U.S. Open champion Windham Clark (15 holes), Min Woo Lee (eight holes), Jordan Smith (seven holes), and Kevin Roy, who had a bogey on the sixteenth and remaining gap.
Of those gamers, Roy has not performed within the British Open and is hoping to qualify.
“I do know I’ve a spot within the British Open, so I’ve nothing to lose,” Roy mentioned. “I simply need to go on the market and preserve attempting to get a whole lot of birdies and see the place I find yourself.”
Carl Willips was 8 beneath after 12 holes and immediately emerged because the sentimental favourite to clinch not less than one of many British Open spots. Villips was in Kentucky on Monday to compete within the Reverse Subject ISCO Championship when he was notified that he had a spot out there at Renaissance Membership. The 9 gamers above him on the Scottish Open reserve listing selected to stay in Kentucky.
It is a sudden large journey and there aren’t any ensures.
“The great factor right here is the British Open berth subsequent week. That is what I am actually enjoying for. I am hoping to play within the British Open subsequent week,” mentioned Willips. ” week right here means lots to my season contemplating it is nearly over.”
Robert McIntyre (Scotland) made two birdies and was near a two-stroke lead. Tom Kim, who shared the 36-hole lead with McIlroy and Smith, made par on all seven holes he performed and was inside two strokes.
