| -12 B Harman (US); -7 C Young (US); -6 J Rahm (Spa); -5 V Hovland (Nor), A Rozner (Fra), J Day (Aus), T Fleetwood (Eng), S Straka (Aut); -4 A Fitzpatrick (Eng), S Sharma (Ind) |
| Selected others:-3 R McIlroy (NI), M Jordan (Eng); -2 M Fitzpatrick (Eng), J Spieth (US); -1 C Smith (Aus), +4 S Scheffler (US) |
Brian Harman responded exceptionally to Jon Rahm’s record-breaking round of 63 at Royal Liverpool, maintaining his lead in the championship.
Heading into the final round, Harman holds a five-shot advantage over fellow American Cameron Young, who shot a 66 to finish at seven under.
Rahm’s impressive eight-under round, which he completed before Harman teed off, put him at six under and applied some pressure on the leader.
Despite a shaky start with a bogey on the first hole, Harman recovered with a 69 to reach a total of 12 under par. Tommy Fleetwood’s challenge stalled with a level-par 71, putting him further behind.
Fleetwood, who had been Harman’s closest competitor at the halfway point, struggled to break par and was the only player in the top 20 to do so on a day that saw less rain and winds than expected.
Harman previously held the 54-hole lead at the 2017 US Open, finishing joint second. Only two players have lost a 54-hole lead at The Open after three rounds in the tournament’s history.
The 36-year-old faced some early challenges with a bogey on the first and another dropped shot on the fourth, reducing his lead to two strokes.
However, Harman played steady golf, with birdies on the fifth, ninth, 12th, and 13th holes. Notably, he has not missed a putt from inside 10 feet throughout the tournament.
In his post-round interview, Harman emphasized the importance of patience and expressed pride in his ability to stay focused.
Harman will tee off alongside Young on Sunday, who finished as runner-up in last year’s Open.
Rahm’s incredible round propelled him up the leaderboard, revitalizing his chances of victory. The Spaniard, who won the Masters earlier this year, started the third round at two over par and struggled with his putting throughout the week.
Meanwhile, Fleetwood and other home contenders, including Rory McIlroy, faced difficulties in their pursuit of the title.
Home challenge fades
McIlroy struggled with his putting, missing several birdie opportunities and posting a two-under-par 69. Fleetwood, despite an early birdie, couldn’t maintain momentum and settled for a level-par round.
Fleetwood remains in contention but acknowledges the challenge ahead. He draws confidence from his previous low-scoring performances in major tournaments.
Other notable performances include England’s Alex Fitzpatrick, who outperformed his brother and 2022 US Open champion Matt, and Matthew Jordan, who continues his impressive run as a local competitor at Royal Liverpool.
