Shane Lowry shoots a disappointing third round of 77 but will head into Sunday three shots behind -4 leader Billy Horschel

Shane Lowry -7 36 hole leader of The 152nd Open Championship played in Saturday’s final group with -5 Daniel Brown. Playing conditions on west coast of Scotland were extremely difficult due to heavy rain but this didn’t affect Lowry especially with playing holes one to four in -1. The Offaly native was unsuccessful with birdie efforts at the fourth and sixth hole and remained -8. Postage Stamp eighth hole played 130 yards on Saturday and Lowry’s tee shot ended up in greenside coffin bunker resulting in a disappointing double bogey. 2019 Open Championship winner composed himself to finish the front nine with a par and headed to 10th tee -6.

Saturday’s wind direction changed at Royal Troon resulting in it been nearly impossible to find the extremely difficult 504 yard 11th hole and this started a frustrating four-hole stretch of +4 for Lowry. Lowry managed to escape 16 and 17 with pars but his day ended on 18 signing for a +6 round of 77. “Yeah, playing a par-3 hitting drivers is not much crack”, said Lowry. Lowry currently -1 ninth has it all to do on Sunday especially if he wants to equal Padraig Harrington’s tally of two Open Championship wins. “I have a job to do and a similar chance to win this tournament”, said Lowry.

Irishman’s playing partner Brown wasn’t faced by playing in the final group as his -1 front nine included three birdies. Brown is currently 272 in World Golf Rankings but showed no signs of this especially with a incredible birdie at 16 to reach -6. The Englishman found trouble at the extremely difficult 238 yard par three 17th hole resulting in dropping back to -5. Brown unfortunately was drawn with a bad stance at 18 finishing with a disappointing double bogey to post -3.

The second last group contained -5 Justin Rose and -2 Billy Horschel. Horschel was incredible on the front nine achieving four birdies to shoot 32. Horschel was another victim of 11 with dropping a shot but played a multiple of extraordinary short game play to remain -5. 2021 BMW PGA Championship winner finished with a bogey at 18 to post -4 and lead The 152nd Open Championship. “I love it. I've worked my entire life to be in this position. Listen, I've been in the lead many times going into a final round. Obviously this is a major. It means a little bit more”, said Horschel. Rose’s performance at 2023 Ryder Cup has given him added believe, finished with a massive par save at 18 to shoot 73 and is lying tied second on -3

Sam Burns, Russell Henley, Thriston Lawrence took advantage of early calm conditions to shoot a combined -18 and are all tied second on -3. Xander Schauffele -1 shot an impressive front nine of -3 that included a sensational tee shot at Postage Stamp eighth hole. Schauffele finished with a bogey at 18 to shoot an impressive round of 69 and is two behind Horschel. Scottie Scheffler -2 typically kept himself in it with a front nine of -1. Scheffler’s highlight of day three was an incredible tee shot at extremely difficult 238 yard 17th hole and went on to shoot 71. Schauffele who has an added swagger since winning PGA Championship and Scheffler world number one both are going to have a massive say on Sunday.