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Rory McIlroy, Viktor Hovland surge clear at British Open


Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy and Norway's Viktor Hovland celebrate on day 10 during the third round after scoring an eagle and a bird respectively.

Golf – 150th Open Championship – Old Course, St Andrews, Scotland, England – 16 July 2022 Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland and Viktor Hovland of Norway celebrate on day 10 during the following third round when respectively scored an eagle and a bird. REUTERS / Paul Childs

ST ANDREWS, Scotland— Rory McIlroy and Viktor Hovland were locked together with four clear hits at the top of the English Open rankings after edging past St Andrews with a third-half fit 66 on Saturday.

Norwegian Hovland got off to a quick start with four birdies in a row from game three before Northern Ireland’s McIlroy broke in from a beachside bunker to hit the 10th hole and took the lead with a birdie on 14.

McIlroy took a shot at the infamous Road Hole No. 17, his only mecca of the day, and his Ryder Cup teammates all placed the last man under 16 before embracing each other warmly. when crowded galleries give them a standing ovation.

They will play together again on Sunday when McIlroy, 33, will win his fifth major title and his first 24-year-old Hovland.

“I think it’s really good,” McIlroy told reporters. “I missed some early opportunities. But still really patient. And I feel like my patience paid off in the first leg with a couple of birdies and a loss of over 10.

“Overall, a really good day. We beat each other and navigated the last holes well,” said McIlroy, who hasn’t won a major tournament since 2014.

Hovland is aiming to be the first Norwegian to win a major title and can’t imagine a better venue to do so than in golf’s home country.

“I don’t think anywhere else would top it,” he said. “Growing up in Norway and always watching The Open Championship. To win a major tournament closest to home, that would be really great.”

Cameron Smith of Australia and Cameron Young of America are the closest challengers to leaders over 12.

Smith, the overnight lead, struggled to find the momentum he steered toward opening rounds 67 and 64 and fighting hard to claim his 73.

Young, who shot the first 64 rounds to lead his first British Open, also lacked inspiration in his 71st shot.

Korean Kim Si-woo moved into contention 11 under with a neat 67 round, level with world number one Scottie Scheffler, who hit 69.

Two-time champion Dustin Johnson finished in bottom 10 after touring several bunkers and topped his tee shot on the last hole with an erratic 71.

Briton Tommy Fleetwood completed a glittering 66 to relegate to bottom nine, tied with compatriot Matt Fitzpatrick, US Open champion and Australian Adam Scott.

American Jordan Spieth, 2017 Open champion, and his compatriot Patrick Cantlay over 8 under.

Shane Lowry hit an eagle double to move up the leaderboard but the 2019 Irish Open champion faded to a bottom seventh place alongside American Kevin Kisner, who made nine birdies at the age of 65. , Briton Tyrrell Hatton, Belgian Thomas Pieters and American Brian Harman.

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