Latest news with #The153rdOpenChampionship
New York Post
3 hours ago
- Sport
- New York Post
Shane Lowry's British Open has unceremoniously gone down the drain
PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland — Shane Lowry's Portrush British Open defense won't officially be dead until Sunday's final round is complete. It didn't officially end with the 3-over-par 74 he shot in Saturday's third round. Advertisement The place it really ended was on No. 12 in Friday's second round when he was penalized two shots when TV replay showed his practice swing accidentally moved his ball. That ruling, which Lowry did not argue, made him even par for the tournament instead of 2-under, which he would have been had he not been penalized. Making matters worse than the triple bogey he took on No. 14 and a bogey on 17, Lowry wasn't feeling well physically on Saturday. 'I tried to get a protein drink down me after eight holes and I felt like throwing up all over the place,'' he said. 'It's been a tough day, but I'm not going to make excuses. I played poorly today and obviously had a bad finish.'' Advertisement Lowry called the penalty ruling that took the air out of his week 'hard to take.'' 4 Shane Lowry of Ireland walks off the ninth green during Day Three of The 153rd Open Championship at Royal Portrush Golf Club on July 19, 2025 in Portrush, Northern Ireland. Getty Images 'You get home late and have to dust yourself off,'' he said. 'Wake up at 2:30 with cramps in my stomach. I know we have it in the house. [My daughter] Ivy had it a couple of days ago. Advertisement 'I wanted to do well so badly this week,'' Lowry went on. 'I put so much into this week that, yeah, it's hard to take. I didn't get to enjoy today as much as I would have liked. Saturday at the Open in your home country, I should enjoy it a lot more than I did. 'Hopefully, I get out tomorrow morning and try and enjoy it as best I can, try to shoot the best score I can and then have a couple weeks off before the playoffs. My big mindset for the next few months is about the Ryder Cup and trying to win that. That's where all my work is going to go towards over the next while.'' Jon Rahm, after his round Saturday, was sympathetic to what Lowry had to endure with the penalty. 4 Shane Lowry of Ireland tees off on the 10th hole during Day Three of The 153rd Open Championship at Royal Portrush Golf Club on July 19, 2025 in Portrush, Northern Ireland. Getty Images Advertisement 'I can relate because I've been there,'' Rahm said. 'They've done exactly the same thing to me where they give you the iPad, and look what happened. You're in a no-win situation, because if you say, 'I didn't see it therefore I don't think it should be a penalty,' even though the rule says it should be visible to the naked eye, you always run the risk of being called something you don't want to be called. 'And if you take it on the safe side, you're taking a two-shot penalty. If he starts at 2-under today, you have a good Saturday, you can put yourself in contention. When you get 10 shots back, it's a little bit harder. It's a tough spot to be in.' Bryson DeChambeau kept his momentum from a strong second round to make the cut with a 68 on Saturday to get to 2-under for the week. 'The past three days I've been playing some great golf, I've been striping it,'' he said. 'My game's in a great place. I'm still proud of the resilience that I had. I wish I could have done more today to give myself a better chance for tomorrow, but that's golf. I should have played better the first day.'' DeChambeau was put on the clock for slow play in the 17th hole and afterward addressed the slow-play epidemic in professional golf. 4 Bryson Dechambeau tees off on the 15th hole during the third round. Mike Frey-Imagn Images 'I can tell you, first two rounds it was out of control what I saw,'' DeChambeau said of the pace of play. 'You eventually [should] time everybody for their entire round. Nobody wants to do it because people are too scared to get exposed, which I am an advocate for. I think it would be more fair towards everybody. Advertisement 'If somebody is playing slower, the guy can go up to him and say, 'Hey, man, you're over-par with your time.' All you do is you just time them for every single shot. It's not rocket science.' John Parry carded the first hole-in-one of the tournament when he jarred an 8-iron on the par-3 12th hole Saturday. Parry said it was the 10th ace of his career, but that one was 'definitely the best one, 100 percent.'' 'The sort of experience you get making a hole-in-one in this atmosphere was absolutely amazing,'' he said. Advertisement Justin Leonard, who won the Claret Jug in 1997, played the weekend in a major on Saturday for the first time since 2014. 4 Justin Leonard reacts after teeing off on the 13th hole during the second round of The 153rd Open Championship golf tournament. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect 'Yes, there are emotions,'' the 53-year-old said. 'I'm just happy that I came over here and played the way I did the last couple of days. To come over at my experience — and age — and make the cut is pretty special. Then to come out and play pretty solid today (1-under-par 70) felt good. I feel like me making the cut is kind of contending. Advertisement 'Playing well and making the cut this week, when I do come back, I'll kind of have that great memory to think that I can probably do it again.'' Lee Westwood's fine week continued on Saturday as he shot a third-round 69. But it wasn't your ordinary 69. The 52-year-old Westwood, who hasn't played a major championship since 2022, shot 40 on the front nine and followed that with a 29 on the back. Advertisement That tied Ryan Fox for the lowest back nine shot at a Portrush Open. Westwood actually lipped out his birdie putt on 18, which could have given him a 28 and the record by himself. Westwood, who's never won a major, has three times finished runner-up in majors, 12 times in the top five, and 19 times in the top 10.
New York Post
4 hours ago
- Sport
- New York Post
Chris Gotterup riding high in British Open surge after life-altering win
PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland — Chris Gotterup has turned 'house money' at this week's British Open into a potential rocket ship launch for his golf career. 'I've been saying all week that this is house money for me this week,'' the Little Silver, N.J., native said Saturday after shooting 68 to get to 8-under par and in a tie for fourth — six shots behind leader Scottie Scheffler. 'I wasn't even planning on being here come a week ago. Anything's a bonus. I fully expect to give it my best, and we'll see where that ends up.' Advertisement Gotterup won the Scottish Open seven days ago, a life-altering victory that earned him a spot in the British Open field this week at Portrush. And to say he's taken advantage of it would be a massive understatement. 'I feel like I've gotten a bit of taste over the last couple of weeks of what it feels like out there with Oakmont [U.S. Open] and the Scottish Open and stuff like that,'' he said. Chris Gotterup of the United States tees off on the sixth hole during Day Three of The 153rd Open Championship at Royal Portrush Golf Club on July 19, 2025 in Portrush, Northern Ireland. Getty Images Advertisement Gotterup, who played his college golf at Rutgers and Oklahoma, said he's trying not to overthink why he's hitting his stride at the moment. 'I just feel like I'm starting to get more comfortable,'' he said. 'I feel like I'm starting to understand my game better and how I operate and what kind of golf is needed at certain places. I just feel like I've been very in control of my misses and my attitude. 'I don't have an answer,'' he went on. 'I wish I had it. I would have used it a long time ago. Just something clicked, and I'm going to ride it as long as I can and learn from why stuff's working well and just put it in my back pocket and try to take it to each tournament from there and learn along the way. Chris Gotterup of the United States reacts on the 17th hole during Day Three of The 153rd Open Championship. Getty Images Advertisement 'It's definitely been a nice learning process these last couple months, and I feel like I've done a good job of piecing things together and trying to figure out why stuff's happening, good or bad, and use it for the future.'' The 25-year-old Gotterup has put himself into the conversation as one of the rising young players in the game. More of what's taken place the past two weeks and he might insert himself into the Ryder Cup conversation. That's a place he refuses to let his mind wander, because there is a job to finish on Sunday, when he'll be one of the pursuers chasing Scheffler. 'He's been the best player in the world for the past couple years,'' Gotterup said. 'I fully expect him to go out and play a great round tomorrow. I'm going to have to bring my best tomorrow, and I'm going to have to bring it anyways in terms of it being a final round in a major. It's not just Scottie out there, there's a lot of great players in the mix.''
Scotsman
7 hours ago
- Sport
- Scotsman
Scottie Scheffler sets up victory procession - The Open field will have to go some to stop march to title
American on course to become just second top-ranked player after Tiger Woods to lift Claret Jug Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... As a parade got under way nearby, Scottie Scheffler marched into a commanding position at the top of the leaderboard in The 153rd Open at Royal Portrush. Bidding to become just the second current world No 1 after Tiger Woods to be announced as the Champion Golfer of the Year, the 29-year-old sits four shots clear heading into the closing circuit on the County Antrim coast. On a dramatic day, home hero Rory McIlroy thrilled a massive crowd as he made a charge while eagles were being made left, right and centre for a while. By the time the dust settled, though, it seemed though another procession - a victory one in this instance - had been set up for Sunday. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Scheffler's lead is the largest at this stage since Brian Harman went on to claim the Claret Jug at Royal Liverpool two years ago. Having opened with rounds of 68-64-67, he'll become just the seventh player to record four rounds in the 60s if he can add one more. Like Woods in his prime, Scheffler has been a brilliant closer and there is nothing whatsoever to suggest he'll fail to do so here. Scottie Scheffler walks on the 18th green during day three of The 153rd Open Championship at Royal Portrush |'I like being out here competing,' said the two-time Masters champion and current PGA champion. 'This is why we work so hard - to have opportunities like this and I'm excited for the challenge of tomorrow. Winning major championships is not an easy task, and I've put myself in a good position. Going into tomorrow I'm going to step up there on the first tee and I'm going to be trying to get the ball in the fairway, and when I get to the second shot I'm going to be trying to get that ball on the green. There's not really too much else going on.' To the delight of the home fans, McIlroy rolled in a monster birdie putt across the first green for a birdie before raising the loudest roar of the entire week when he converted an eagle putt from 56 feet down over two tiers at the par-5 13th. The grand slam winner gave it his all as he signed for a 66 but, despite that, he's heading out in the final round trying to make up five shots on the game's current dominant force and talked about the outcome being 'inevitable' but, at the same time, vowing to push Scheffler as hard as he possibly can. 'Even when he doesn't have his best stuff, he's become a fantastic player,' said the world No 1. 'He's improved so much with his putter. Yeah, it's going to be tough to catch him tomorrow if he keeps playing the way he does. But, if I can get out tomorrow and get off to a similar start to what I did today, get the crowd going, hopefully he tails out a couple groups behind me, and you never know. But I just need to go out and play another really good round of golf tomorrow and see what happens.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Scheffler shows his class Though he eagled the seventh and made birdies at the eighth and sixth, it was a par save at the 11th on a blemish-free card that probably showed why Scheffler is miles out in front in the Official World Golf Ranking and looks as though he can be the top dog as long as he wants. A pulled approach left him in some thick stuff up on a bank but, after getting it out to nine feet, in went the putt. He also did well to avoid spillage three holes later. 'I think the card could look stress-free, but I had two really nice par saves on the back nine that were key,' he admitted. 'I think anytime you can keep a clean card around a major championship, you're going to be having a pretty good day.' In truth, he rarely has a day day on the golf course, which means that the chasing pack - Li, who is bidding to become the first Asian to win this event, is the closest challenger, one ahead of Fitzpatrick - have their work cut out on the final day of the 2025 men's major season. 'I think it would be silly to say that you can never let your mind wander,' said Scheffler of how he aims to keep his focus. 'But I think most of what I can control is the time I have when we're thinking about the shot and when I'm over the ball, and most of that's just being committed to what I'm doing. I have a picture of what I want to do, and that's what I'm committed to try and make happen.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Home hero Rory McIlroy celebrates an eagle putt on the 12th green during the third round at Royal Portrush |Alongside McIlroy on eight under is newly-crowned Genesis Scottish Open champion Chris Gotterup, as well as three-time Alfred Dunhill Links champion Tyrrell Hatton and Harris English, with defending champion Xander Schauffele one further back after posting a 66 to have an outside chance of becoming the first player to retain this title since Woods in 2006. After a best-of-the-day 65, Russell Henley sits on six under along with Bob MacIntyre, the Hojgaard twins - Nicolai and Rasmus - and 2023 winner Brian Harman, with experienced English duo Lee Westwood, who was out in 40 then home in 29, and Justin Rose, who had eight birdies, three bogeys, one double bogey and two shanks in his 68, both on five under. 'Let's be realistic,' said Fitzpatrick, the 2022 US Open champion, speaking about himself being five back but in general as well of the task facing the chasing pack. 'But, if you get off to a good start, then obviously put a bit of pressure on early doors and hope for the best really. It's clear what I have to do tomorrow.'
Scotsman
7 hours ago
- Sport
- Scotsman
World No 1 Scottie Scheffler marches clear in 153rd Open at Portrush
American on course to become just second top-ranked player after Tiger Woods to lift Claret Jug Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Scottie Scheffler marched into a commanding position at the top of the leaderboard in The 153rd Open at Royal Portrush. Bidding to become just the second current world No 1 after Tiger Woods to be announced as the Champion Golfer of the Year, the 29-year-old sits four shots clear heading into the closing circuit on the County Antrim coast. On a dramatic day, home hero Rory McIlroy thrilled a massive crowd as he made a charge while eagles were being made left, right and centre for a while. By the time the dust settled, though, it seemed though another procession - a victory one in this instance - had been set up for Sunday. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Scheffler's lead is the largest at this stage since Brian Harman went on to claim the Claret Jug at Royal Liverpool two years ago. Having opened with rounds of 68-64-67, he'll become just the seventh player to record four rounds in the 60s if he can add one more. Like Woods in his prime, Scheffler has been a brilliant closer and there is nothing whatsoever to suggest he'll fail to do so here. Scottie Scheffler walks on the 18th green during day three of The 153rd Open Championship at Royal Portrush |'I like being out here competing,' said the two-time Masters champion and current PGA champion. 'This is why we work so hard - to have opportunities like this and I'm excited for the challenge of tomorrow. Winning major championships is not an easy task, and I've put myself in a good position. Going into tomorrow I'm going to step up there on the first tee and I'm going to be trying to get the ball in the fairway, and when I get to the second shot I'm going to be trying to get that ball on the green. There's not really too much else going on.' To the delight of the home fans, McIlroy rolled in a monster birdie putt across the first green for a birdie before raising the loudest roar of the entire week when he converted an eagle putt from 56 feet down over two tiers at the par-5 13th. The grand slam winner gave it his all as he signed for a 66 but, despite that, he's heading out in the final round trying to make up five shots on the game's current dominant force and talked about the outcome being 'inevitable' but, at the same time, vowing to push Scheffler as hard as he possibly can. 'Even when he doesn't have his best stuff, he's become a fantastic player,' said the world No 1. 'He's improved so much with his putter. Yeah, it's going to be tough to catch him tomorrow if he keeps playing the way he does. But, if I can get out tomorrow and get off to a similar start to what I did today, get the crowd going, hopefully he tails out a couple groups behind me, and you never know. But I just need to go out and play another really good round of golf tomorrow and see what happens.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Scheffler shows his class Though he eagled the seventh and made birdies at the eighth and sixth, it was a par save at the 11th on a blemish-free card that probably showed why Scheffler is miles out in front in the Official World Golf Ranking and looks as though he can be the top dog as long as he wants. A pulled approach left him in some thick stuff up on a bank but, after getting it out to nine feet, in went the putt. He also did well to avoid spillage three holes later. 'I think the card could look stress-free, but I had two really nice par saves on the back nine that were key,' he admitted. 'I think anytime you can keep a clean card around a major championship, you're going to be having a pretty good day.' In truth, he rarely has a day day on the golf course, which means that the chasing pack - Li, who is bidding to become the first Asian to win this event, is the closest challenger, one ahead of Fitzpatrick - have their work cut out on the final day of the 2025 men's major season. 'I think it would be silly to say that you can never let your mind wander,' said Scheffler of how he aims to keep his focus. 'But I think most of what I can control is the time I have when we're thinking about the shot and when I'm over the ball, and most of that's just being committed to what I'm doing. I have a picture of what I want to do, and that's what I'm committed to try and make happen.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Home hero Rory McIlroy celebrates an eagle putt on the 12th green during the third round at Royal Portrush |Alongside McIlroy on eight under is newly-crowned Genesis Scottish Open champion Chris Gotterup, as well as three-time Alfred Dunhill Links champion Tyrrell Hatton and Harris English, with defending champion Xander Schauffele one further back after posting a 66 to have an outside chance of becoming the first player to retain this title since Woods in 2006. After a best-of-the-day 65, Russell Henley sits on six under along with Bob MacIntyre, the Hojgaard twins - Nicolai and Rasmus - and 2023 winner Brian Harman, with experienced English duo Lee Westwood, who was out in 40 then home in 29, and Justin Rose, who had eight birdies, three bogeys, one double bogey and two shanks in his 68, both on five under. 'Let's be realistic,' said Fitzpatrick, the 2022 US Open champion, speaking about himself being five back but in general as well of the task facing the chasing pack. 'But, if you get off to a good start, then obviously put a bit of pressure on early doors and hope for the best really. It's clear what I have to do tomorrow.'
New York Post
9 hours ago
- Sport
- New York Post
Rory McIlroy makes charge at British Open ‘moving day' — but Sunday's task still looks impossible
PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland — Rory McIlroy gave the home crowds exactly what they craved on Saturday: He used the traditional third-round 'moving day'' to make a move up the leaderboard. McIlroy, who began the day at 3-under par, seven shots behind leader Scottie Scheffler, activated the huge Portrush crowds with a third-round 5-under-par 66. It left him at 8-under par, six shots behind Scheffler. 3 Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland celebrates an eagle putt on the 12th green during Day Three of The 153rd Open Championship at Royal Portrush Golf Club on July 19, 2025 in Portrush, Northern Ireland. Getty Images He got off to a scorching start with birdies on three of his first four holes to quickly get to 6-under par. After a lull late on the outward nine, McIlroy pushed it to 7-under with an eagle on the par-5 12th hole, which the field was eating alive. A long bomb of a birdie putt on 15 got him to 8-under par and the crowds around the course were alive with anticipation. McIlroy escaped with a nifty par save on the par-3 16th hole, which is named 'Calamity Corner,'' after he hit his tee shot into the right rough. He chipped to 3 feet and made the putt. 3 Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy watches his approach shot to the 18th green on Saturday at the British Open. AFP via Getty Images 'I got off to the perfect start, 3-under through four,'' McIlroy said. 'It was sort of like the dream start. It was an incredible atmosphere out there. It was so much fun. I feel like I've at least given myself half a chance tomorrow.'' McIlroy, of course, wanted more, and that lull in the middle of the round slowed him a bit. 'I felt like at the end of the front nine there, at least through 11, the par on 7 felt like a bogey, and then the bogey on 11 (hurt),'' he said. 'Then to play those last seven holes at 3-under, I thought was a good effort. I played well.'' He played well, but he knows because of who's in front of him, the task on Sunday will be almost impossible. 3 Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland lines up a putt on the 17th green during Day Three of The 153rd Open Championship at Royal Portrush Golf Club on July 19, 2025. Getty Images 'It's going to be tough to catch him tomorrow if he keeps playing the way he's been playing,'' McIlroy said. 'If I can come out tomorrow and get off a similar start that I did today and get the crowd going, you never know. 'Scottie is incredible,'' McIlroy went on. 'Even when he's not playing with his best stuff, he's become so good around the greens and improved his putting so much.''
