American Billy Horschel delivered a remarkable performance in the British Open on Saturday, taking the lead after a two-under 69 round. The conditions were brutal, with heavy rain and a chill wind making it a true test of survival. Horschel, playing in shirt sleeves while others were bundled up in waterproofs, displayed exceptional resilience, finding four birdies on the front nine and saving par at the 14th and 16th with impressive bunker shots. He ultimately finished the day with a five-under score, giving him a two-stroke lead heading into the final round.
Several other players made significant moves on Saturday, taking advantage of slightly more favorable conditions earlier in the day. South Africa’s Thriston Lawrence and American Sam Burns both shot six-under 65s, while Russell Henley carded a 66. England’s Open debutant Dan Brown also impressed, reaching six under before a bogey and double-bogey on the final two holes dropped him to three under.
The conditions took their toll on some of the leading contenders, including overnight leader Shane Lowry. After a promising start, Lowry bogeyed five of his last eight holes to finish the day on one under. PGA champion Xander Schauffele also remained in contention, shooting a tidy 69 to end the day on three under. Justin Rose, who had to qualify for this year’s Open, battled his way to a two-over 73, keeping himself firmly in the hunt.
With more wind forecast for Sunday, the top 14 players on the leaderboard are separated by only five strokes, setting the stage for a thrilling final round. Horschel, known for his support of West Ham United, expressed his satisfaction with his performance, acknowledging the challenging conditions.
Rose, aiming to become the first English winner of the Open since 1992, also praised his own resilience, comparing the back nine to some of the toughest he’s faced in a tournament. The day’s play saw a mix of impressive rounds and frustrating struggles, with the rollercoaster nature of golf on full display.
South Korea’s Kim Si-woo provided a highlight moment with a hole-in-one at the 17th hole, the first ace of this year’s championship. With so many players still in contention, Sunday’s final round promises to be a captivating battle for the Claret Jug.
