Staff Reporter.
World number 1 Scottie Scheffler continued his imperious march towards a first Open Championship title in a third round which had contained all the ingredients to set up a classic.
Victory on Sunday at Royal Portrush would complete the third leg of the career Grand Slam, having won May’s US PGA Championship, to add to two Masters titles.
It was a typically solid, if unspectacular, bogey-free round of 67, punctuated by an eagle and two birdies, to take him to 14 under. And he will start the final round knowing he has won all three of his majors when holding or sharing the lead after round three.
“I was pretty patient,” said the 29-year-old.
“Sometimes in major championships, it can be tough to make birdies, and today was one of those days.”
Li Haotong is his closest challenger at 10 under par as he aims for history by becoming the first Chinese man to win a major.
Matthew Fitzpatrick sits third, five shots off the lead, after stumbling down the back nine on Saturday.
Rory McIlroy appears the one big threat to a serene Sunday afternoon for Scheffler as the Masters champion tries to ride the wave of support on a course just over 60 miles from where he took his first steps in the game just outside Belfast.
For much of Saturday, the thousands following McIlroy’s every move were in raptures.
Three birdies in his opening four holes and an eagle at the 12th powered the world No 2 to a round of 66 and a share of fourth place.
But the 2014 British Open champion remains eight shots off the lead, a gap even he recognises is hard to bridge given Scheffler’s class.
“Scottie Scheffler is inevitable. Even when he doesnt have his best stuff, he’s the complete player,” said McIlroy.
“He’s playing like Scottie. I don’t think it’s a surprise. Everyone’s seen the way he’s played or plays over the last two or three years. He’s just so solid. He doesn’t make mistakes.”
Scheffler raised eyebrows in his pre-tournament media duties by stating his is “not a fulfilling life” despite his success and standing in the game.
“It feels like you work your whole life to celebrate winning a tournament for like a few minutes. It only lasts a few minutes, that kind of euphoric feeling,” he added.
Yet, it is hard to see Scheffler being robbed of his few moments of bliss come the 18th green on the Causeway Coast.
Victory would see him become only the second player after Tiger Woods to win the British Open while ranked world No 1.
His streak of 10 consecutive top-10 finishes is also set to continue, a run that includes three tournament wins.
That level of consistency has sparked comparisons to Woods’ heyday, even if Scheffler remains some way off the latter’s 15 majors.