Scottie Scheffler takes grip of Open as Rory McIlroy charges up leaderboard
Fitzpatrick remained his main challenger, two back, reaching the turn in a two-under 34 but six holes ahead of them McIlroy was producing one of his thrilling charges.
Biding his time.
After six pars, Scottie has an eagle in round three. pic.twitter.com/y8JK4KwhjX
— The Open (@TheOpen) July 19, 2025
The Northern Irishman had got off to a flying start with three birdies in his first four holes but, after a bizarre incident on the 11th when he hit out of the rough and dislodged a previously-buried ball, a bogey meant his challenge appeared to have stalled.
That was about the same time Scheffler eagled the seventh and the distance to the top was seven strokes.
However, on a Royal Portrush course where he shot 61 as a 16-year-old and backed by huge galleries, Masters champion McIlroy responded by draining a 56ft putt – his longest of the week – at the 12th to get back to seven under and still in contention.
HAVE YOU EVER SEEN THIS BEFORE?! 🤯
A second ball appears as Rory McIlroy plays his shot 😱 pic.twitter.com/iQX29qxc69
— Sky Sports Golf (@SkySportsGolf) July 19, 2025
Defending champion Xander Schauffele, who started the day two under having been in danger of missing the cut until a birdie run on his Friday back nine, played the three par-fives in five under with two eagles on the back nine after a birdie at the second to shoot 66 and close on seven under.
Another birdie at the 15th and he too was level with McIlroy in a tie for fifth place, with Englishman Tyrrell Hatton ahead of them on eight under, aided by an eagle chip-in at the seventh.
Ahead of him was Haotong Li, whose solitary birdie and eight pars left him at nine under – not really in the conversation but definitely in the running.
But Scheffler remained the man to beat, as evidenced by his booming 382-yard drive and brilliant approach at the seventh that took him clear of Fitzpatrick again, who could only birdie for 11 under.
A 16-footer for birdie at the next gave the reigning US PGA champion a cushion but he could not afford to get too comfortable with world number two McIlroy riding the wave of home support.
The highlight of Yorkshireman John Parry's day was holing a 199-yard eight iron for an ace at the 13th in a round of 67 which saw him finish three under.
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