TROON, Scotland (news agencies) — Billy Horschel with his short sleeves in the chill and his brilliant short game at Royal Troon somehow held on for a 2-under 69 and a one-shot lead in a British Open that got turned upside down and every other possible way Saturday.
The rain started before the leading players teed off and only got stronger. The wind was relentless and into the players’ faces on the brute of a back nine, leaving the world’s best to hit fairway metals into par 4s — and they still couldn’t reach the green.
“That’s the hardest nine holes I think you could ever play in golf right now,” said Dustin Johnson, a former world No. 1 with two majors. He shot 72 and was five behind.
It was as tough as it gets and Horschel was up to the task with a series of marvellous par saves down the stretch from the rough and from pot bunkers.
Shane Lowry couldn’t say the same, and the frustration was evident.
Lowry, who showed his game is built for links golf when he won at Royal Portrush five years ago, had a three-shot lead early and then fell apart. He played the final 11 holes in 7 over, starting with a double bogey from the Coffin bunker on the 123-yard “Postage Stamp” eighth hole. One last bogey gave him a 77 and left him three behind.
“There’s no doubt I’m going to go out there tomorrow thinking I can win the tournament,” Lowry said. “But it’s just hard right now. Ten minutes ago I had to putt for par on the 18th green, and I’m here talking to you guys now trying to figure out how I shot 77 in my own head.”
It was like that for everyone, at least those who faced four-plus hours in the worst of it.
Thriston Lawrence of South Africa teed off more than three hours before the final group, had six birdies in eight holes and posted a 65. He went from 10 shots behind to playing in the final group Sunday with Horschel, one shot behind.
Sam Burns wasn’t too far behind Lawrence. He made eight birdies in his round of 65 and was in the group one shot back that included Russell Henley, who also avoided most of the worst weather and shot 66.
Horschel was at 4-under 209, his first time with a 54-hole lead in a major. Only once before has he even dealt with the Sunday pressure of a major, in the 2013 U.S. Open at Merion where he started two shots behind and tied for fourth.
Now he gets 18 holes against Royal Troon and a cast of survivors.
PGA champion Xander Schauffele faced the brunt of the weather and shot 69, leaving him in the group one shot behind along with Justin Rose (73) and Daniel Brown, the Englishman making his major debut and playing as if he were far more experienced.
Brown had the lead after a birdie on the par-5 16th, only to finish bogey-double bogey. His tee shot on the 18th came to rest on the edge of a deep pot bunker, leaving him no place to stand but some 4 feet down in the stand. He hit into another bunker with his third shot and made 6.
Also still very much alive was golf’s best player, Scottie Scheffler, who had a 71 and was only two shots behind. He missed his share of short putts but delivered a 3-wood into the 238-yard 17th hole to 2 feet.
The par 3 played so long that some players late in the day were hitting driver.
“I probably don’t hit a 3-wood on a par 3 very often,” Scheffler said. “I probably don’t hit driver and a 3-wood really solid on a par 4 and don’t get there in two, either.”
He also called it “the hardest nine holes that I’ll ever play.”
Lowry shot 40 on the back nine and was at 1-under 212. It felt like an awful day, but he still was only three shots behind. His final hole summed up the day — a drive so far right it was behind the 17th green, and an approach into the grandstands that dropped onto the platform and rolled along to the very edge of the structure.
There were so many other images like that.
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