-16 R McIlroy (NI), V Hovland (Nor); -12 C Smith (Aus), C Young (USA); -11 S Scheffler (USA), SW Kim (Kor) Selected: -10 D Johnson (USA); -9 T Fleetwood (Eng), M Fitzpatrick (Eng), A Scott (Aus); -8 J Spieth (USA); -7 S Lowry (Ire), T Hatton (Eng); -6 B DeChambeau (USA); -5 I Poulter (Eng) Complete classification table
Rory McIlroy and Viktor Hovland take a four-shot lead in the final round of the 150th Open Championship after a brilliant duel over the Old Course.
Ryder Cup teammates delighted the St Andrews crowd as they both shot six under par 66 to lead 16 under.
McIlroy, who is trying to end a major eight-year drought, threw a bunker for an eagle two in the 10th par-four, but had his lone bogey on the 17th.
Cameron Smith and Cameron Young are tied at third in 12 under par.
The leader of the night, Smith, who led by two at the start of the game after a display of nerveless putting on Friday, snorted in the first, missing a three-footer for the pair, and that marked the tone for the Australian, who carded a 73 and was a. of only two players in the top 20 to shoot above par.
A seven-part series followed his bogey to the first, dropping it to the leaderboard while those around him made birds and eagles in the most benign conditions of the week.
Hovland, who has yet to win one of the most important awards in golf, hit the first strokes with a streak of four birdies from the third to reach 14 less, but McIlroy, a four-time major winner, bounced back with three of his own. ninth.
This tied the Northern Irishman with Smith and put him behind Hovland.
But with a sensational 10th hole, the world number two, who won this title in 2014, reached the top of the standings.
McIlroy visited the arena for the first time this week, with a wandering starting shot. He backed his ball a couple of times before sitting down and giving the perfect shot, his ball falling a dozen feet from the needle and rolling inward. The cheers that greeted her surprised world number one Scottie Scheffler, who was about to hit the track. by three adjacent 11th.
“The eagle was an advantage, but I was pretty proud to have kept my composure for the next few holes, not to drop or get ahead and I played well during the stretch,” the 33-year-old told BBC Radio. 5 Alive.
When the eagle fell, Hovland smiled, as does Hovland. The world number nine, 24, composed and dropped in two from the front of the green to make a bird. The pair was set at 15 under.
They would stay that way for three holes, breaking the tension with a laugh and a joke as they waited for tee 12. McIlroy said earlier in the week that a “boring golf” was needed to win a major. Par. Par. Par.
On the 14th. The longest hole of the course. Hovland only in two. McIlroy spun the screw, nailing an iron to the heart of the green. A two-put birdie put pressure on the Norwegian. Three putts. Par. The roars grew louder as they returned to the city.
“I certainly appreciate the support,” McIlroy said. “I’m sorry out there, but I just have to stay in my little world. I’ve done well for three days, so I just have to do it one more day.”
Meanwhile, Smith melted down on the 13th. With his feet in a bunker and the ball at waist level, he tried the kind of shot that only Seve Ballesteros could do. Once wild it caused more problems. The world number six again tried to advance his ball to the green. He went to the left and scored a double bogey six on the card as he fell to 11 below.
From three behind, McIlroy was five ahead of Smith, who knows how to win on the big stage, after winning the PGA Tour’s flagship player championship in March.
Smith’s teammate Cameron Young played consistently, the American caught birds in the two par-five holes and the ninth and 10th par-four short holes to keep the leaders in sight at 14 under after 14. But a horrible chip through the green on the 16th resulted in a double bogey.
Ahead, McIlroy and Hovland followed behind the green in the treacherous par-four 17th.
McIlroy’s chip from near the wall crawled toward the green, but the 24-foot putt shifted six inches wide.
Hovland opted to make a putt from a gravel path and dropped his ball to four feet and made a hole for the pair, his eighth in a row.
“It was a lot of fun. Shooting without a bogey at a major in these conditions was quite special,” Hovland told the BBC.
They got stuck again at 15, McIlroy’s mantra of “boring golf” wins the majors sounding true.
And that turned into 16 under three times later on the 18th, a hole that was the easiest of the route, almost guaranteeing a bird.
Except Smith and Young, whose rounds faded with messy pairs.
Others challenged briefly, but then hesitated in the closing holes. Scheffler improved from eight minus to 12 under with a birdie on the 11th, while Dustin Johnson also hit that mark on the 10th.
Scheffler fired his 12th and dropped another on the 17th before finishing with a birdie and a total of 11 under after a three under 69, the same score as South Korean Kim Si -woo, who had a 67.
He was a better one than Johnson, who had three bogeys in the last nine when he signed for a 71.
The English challenge is seven behind. Tommy Fleetwood had the best day with a 66 to reach nine below, while the 69 of US Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick elevated him to the same total.