GOLF – American Billy Horschel produced a masterful round in atrocious conditions on Saturday to lead the British Open as the field bunched up for what promises to be a thrilling conclusion to the battle for the Claret Jug at Royal Troon.
While the Ayrshire links released its grip earlier in the day to allow several players to zoom into contention with sizzling third rounds, the leaders faced heavy rain and a chill wind in what became a battle for survival.
Florida native Horschel, playing in shirt sleeves when everyone else was decked out in waterproofs, carded a two-under 69 to head into Sunday’s climax on four under.
South Africa’s Thriston Lawrence and American Sam Burns took advantage of benign conditions early in the day with six-under 65s, finishing three under alongside England’s Dan Brown and Justin Rose, and Americans Xander Schauffele and Russell Henley.
World number one Scottie Sheffler was lurking ominously on two under par.
England’s Open debutant Dan Brown battled superbly in the final pairing with overnight leader Shane Lowry and was the outright leader when he birdied the 16th.
The conditions finally caught up with him, however, as he bogeyed the long par-three 17th. Qualifier Brown, the world number 272, double-bogeyed the 18th to drop back.
For Ireland’s Lowry, Open champion in 2019, his round unravelled after leading on eight under following a birdie at the fourth.
With the conditions worsening, Lowry bogeyed five of his last eight holes to end on one under.
PGA champion Schauffele also finished on three under after plotting a tidy 69 while former U.S. Open champion Rose, who had to qualify this year, ground out a two-over 73.
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