It was Tiger Woods’ last trip to St. Louis. Andrews?
Rory McIlroy has a chance to end his great eight-year drought and capture the “holy grail” of golf while taking some of the lead in the final round of the Open Championship in St Andrews. McIlroy joins the top of the Open standings for Viktor Hovland after the pair share an exciting battle on Saturday, with both players firing rounds of 66 to move four shots from the group of pursuers.
McIlroy and Hovland will be back together again, this time in the final group, but in front of them is a large group of star players looking to put pressure. Australian Cameron Smith, who led the weekend, is four shots behind alongside Cameron Young, with world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler and former Masters champion Dustin Johnson also in contention.
Englishmen Matt Fitzpatrick and Tommy Fleetwood will also be expected to chase, but the focus will be on McIlroy as he seeks to win his fifth major title and join his previous 2014 Open Championship. St Andrews, however, especially in the 150th year of the Championship. “I put myself in a great position after three days,” McIlroy said. “I finished enough golf tournaments in my time to feel like I know what to do.”
Follow the live updates of the Open and the latest rankings in St Andrews below:
The Open
- – 16 R McIlroy, V Hovland
- -13 C Smith, C Young
- -12 J Spieth, D Johnson
- -11 S Kim, T Fleetwood, A Scott, B Harman, X Schauffele, A Ancer, S Kaewkanjana
Show the latest update 1658068686
The Open 2022
They’re 78.5 feet for Hovland in four, the huge putt can only be reduced to 10 feet, a tester for parity.
Schauffele for birdie on the 16th, stays out of the left. It stays at -11.
McIlroy with the same putt that Young did in fours, but slips, just a pair. Still tied at the top at -16.
(Getty Images)
Jack Rathborn July 17, 2022 3:38 PM
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The 2022 Open: Cameron Young makes his move
Majestic of Spieth in set, perfect distance and wheel up to four feet. It will go to -12.
This is Smith’s ideal pace in four from about 20 feet, even touch. Still -13 and three back.
Young wants birds at four, down hill, from left to right, he’s great, a bird back-to-back and up to -13.
Jack Rathborn July 17, 2022 3:33 PM
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The Open 2022
McIlroy misses from just six feet, an opportunity escapes. Still tied at the top at -16.
Meanwhile, Cam Smith, 166 yards in four, narrowly escapes the bunker, but will be about 20 feet from the flag.
DJ up to five, the eagle putt is wide, but can become a birdie from short range to -12.
Jack Rathborn July 17, 2022 3:28 PM
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The Open 2022: Rory McIlroy with the bird opportunity to take the lead
Schauffele with a brilliant shot of 221 yards at 14, cuts the pair 5 of 614 yards in half and only a couple of feet for his eagle. It is now at -11, -6 today.
Hovland can only match the third, McIlroy looking at the bird and a one-shot lead.
Jack Rathborn July 17, 2022 3:23 PM
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The Open 2022
Good rebound from Young, birdie at three the door back to where he started and -12.
Filippo Celli is on the verge of winning the Silver Medal, the Italian fan follows in the footsteps of Matteo Manassero, who won the prestigious award for amateur players at the 2009 Open Championship.
An eagle putt is very wide, it will play for birdie to finish a sensational Open, with -5.
Celli beats Aaron Jarvis, who returned home earlier with +1.
Jack Rathborn July 17, 2022 3:17 p.m.
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The 2022 Open: Cam Smith closes the gap between Rory McIlroy and Viktor Hovland
He is a bird for Smith, closes the gap to three shots at -13 and stands two of the big group in fourth.
Spieth for eagle in five, so close, but an easy bird approaches to move to -11.
Hatton is warming up here, from -4 to seven and -11 overall.
Jack Rathborn July 17, 2022 3:10 p.m.
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The Open 2022: Cam Smith looks at a bird at two
Cam Smith with a magnificent two-shot iron, flirts with the hole and stops three feet away.
McIlroy and Hovland can’t birdie in one, to the delight of the herd of pursuers.
McIlroy for a while in two, perfect. Hovland agrees with him, a little faded, but he’s a little behind his collider.
Jack Rathborn July 17, 2022 3:04 PM
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The 2022 Open: Rory McIlroy and Viktor Hovland put birds first
Scheffler’s bird test in two isn’t good, yet -11.
Young man with a four foot for parity who will not go back after having started half ball to the left. A bogey brings him to -11 and a tie in the fourth with six more.
Hovland up to eight feet in one, McIlroy has 10 feet or so, both good aspects for the bird to get things started.
(Getty Images)
Jack Rathborn July 17, 2022 2:59 PM
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The 2022 Open: Rory McIlroy begins the final round
Rory McIlroy with big applause at first. Amazing atmosphere.
The Northern Irishman throws a plate down the street and marches in search of the No. 5 major.
Viktor Hovland almost cuts the ball to McIlroy with his starting shot, passes about five meters away.
An opportunity for McIlroy to press maybe?
Jack Rathborn July 17, 2022 2:52 PM
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The 2022 Open: Cam Smith and Cam Young underway
Cam Smith is looking to recover after a disappointing third round, it is a difficult task, but four behind, he is trying to become the first Australian player to win the Open since Greg Norman in 1993.
While the last Australian to win an Open here in St Andrews was Kel Nagle in 1960.
Jack Rathborn July 17, 2022 2:47 PM