Viktor Hovland

ST. ANDREWS, Scotland (AP) — Rory McIlroy moved into the void left by the departure of Tiger Woods at the British Open, holing a bunker shot for eagle and ...

He missed a 10-foot birdie chance on the 16th and then three-putted the 17th for a bogey. Johnson also within three shots until a bogey on the 13th and another on the par-5 14th, where his long eagle putt raced up a hill, across the green and into a pot bunker. Smith missed a short birdie chance on the 18th and had a 73. This is his first big moment in a major, and he sounded up to the task. He played a safe pitch onto the green and two-putted for bogey. Instead of birdie, he had to scramble for bogey. He also three-putted from 30 feet to start his round and made just two birdies. “But at the same time, I need o keep in my own little world and try to play a good round of golf. Cameron Smith, who started with a two-shot lead, took double bogey on the 13th hole when he tried a bold play with his feet in a pot bunker. McIlroy finally caught him by holing out from a pot bunker some 80 feet away for eagle on the 10th hole, setting off a roar that could be heard all the way back at the Royal & Ancient clubhouse. The R&A set the tee times that way so they would pass each other. Hopefully, we can push ourselves tomorrow.”

The reigning Champion Golfer of the Year and the man who holds the joint-lead heading into the final day of The 150th Open turned professional on the same day ...

The 150th Open The 150th Open “It was cool to trade some holes with Rory as well. “There are a lot of things that can happen,” Hovland said. I have just got to play my game and not worry about anything else. “I do not mind it,” he said.

The 24-year-old from Norway went toe-to-toe with Rory McIlroy Saturday and his trademark smile rarely left his face.

“But there was a little ridge on the right side and the wind was blowing a lot on the left. With the pins tucked away in places designed to at least partly negate the distances players hit the ball, the Old Course was a test of strategy and patience as much as shot-making. Yes, thoughts of winning will inevitably cross his mind—“Hopefully I could have a similar impact to when [Swede] Henrik [Stenson] won the Open a few years ago”—but passing the time until his near 4 p.m. Sunday tee time won’t be a problem. To do so, you get the feeling Hovland is going to have to at least repeat the sort of form he showed on Day 3. At the end of the day, I've just got to play my game and not worry about anything else.” The bogey McIlroy made on the penultimate hole via the road was the only dropped shot either of the leaders made all day. “For example, on No. 3 the pin looked like it was all the way back in a pretty good spot,” he explained. On one of the most famous courses on the planet, a 24-year-old kid from, of all places, Norway, is jointly leading the oldest event in golf alongside the man many believe to be the most naturally gifted practitioner in the game. But to have a chance to win one, I have to pinch myself. “I’m probably not going to forget that one too quickly. “That round was pretty cool,” said Hovland, the World No. 9. Think about that for a minute.

A complete list of the golf equipment Viktor Hovland is using at St. Andrews during the 2022 British Open.

Viktor Hovland is eyeing victory at the 2022 Open Championship. His coach, GOLF Top Teacher Jeff Smith, explains how he got there.

During his putting warmups, Smith says Hovland will “calibrate” his putting by hitting 12 putts from all around the hole: four putts from each of five, seven, and nine feet. Hovland will read each putt using AimPoint, and then check the read using a level. Doing the boring stuff behind the scenes, and getting a little better each day along the way. “Around the greens we spent countless hours refining his chipping and bunker action,” Smith says. “We’ve worked to neutralize that move so he can work the ball both ways and hit more of a straight ball as his stock shot.” “He has always had a good stroke,” Smith adds. Hovland’s golf swing technique features a strong trail hand grip, and he holds off the clubface during his release. But those technical elements in his golf swing also show up in shorter shots around the green. I couldn’t hit a 3-wood off the deck, I couldn’t get it airborne, it was so frustrating because I would watch my peers and they would just hit these high draws off of the ground onto the green on par-5s.” “On high GIR holes, we’d play competitive putting games and drills around the potential hole locations. And for Hovland, the lowest ebb of his career lives long in the memory. Doing that meant providing more structure to what, and how, Hovland would practice.

Rory McIlroy and Viktor Hovland shot matching rounds of 66 on Saturday and are four shots clear of the field heading into the final round.

"I just feel that the golfing gods have got something good in store for Rory McIlroy." Hovland climbed the leaderboard by making four straight birdies on the front nine, starting with a 38-footer at the third hole and following it up with a 42-footer at the fourth. Just to be here is very special, but to have a chance to win one is — yeah, I have to pinch myself, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to hold back tomorrow." So you just kind of have to go, 'Hey, that was a sick shot,' " Hovland said. "When things like that happen, you just kind of have to give each other a fist bump and say good shot." The 33-year-old McIlroy broke the birdie seal with a pair of circles on the card at Nos. 5 and 6 and tacked on another at the ninth for a splendid outward nine.

Rory McIlroy is one round away from ending his eight-year drought as a major winner following a strong third round on the Old Course at St Andrews.

And I’ve been doing my thing for the last three days and it’s put me in a good position.” “If I go out and I post a good number, I can’t worry about if it’s Viktor or if it’s the two Camerons, if it’s whoever it is,” he said. Obviously 9 and 10 happened and I felt like I was in the tournament. But that’s far from out of the question at the Old Course, where fickle winds and weather can cause fortunes to shift in an instant. “The support that I’ve gotten this week has been absolutely incredible,” said McIlroy, 33, of Northern Ireland. “I appreciate it and I feel it out there. Whereas Hovland’s best finishes at a major were ties for 12th at the U.S. Open in 2019 and last year’s British Open, McIlroy is considerably more experienced.

With an eagle, 11 birdies and just one bogey on the day, McIlroy and Hovland made the Old Course their own.

The biggest mover on Saturday, the Georgia Bulldog shot out of the gate by making birdie on his first three holes and ultimately turning in 6-under 30. T18. Bryson DeChambeau, Francesco Molinari, Russell Henley and three others (-6): It was an entertaining morning for DeChambeau as he scratched his plans to play conservatively and let the big dog eat. The two-time major winner shot out of the gate by making birdie on two of his first three holes and began to climb the leaderboard when he made another pair around the turn. Given his play at the Scottish Open and how he competed at St. Andrews in 2015, Spieth ought to feel a sense of dismay. T11. Jordan Spieth and Patrick Cantlay (-8): The back nine of the Old Course is playing as the more difficult set, and it has tripped up Spieth each and every day. "If [the leaders] don't get too far away, it will be nice teeing off tomorrow feeling like we have a chance and see if we can get some momentum going on the front nine," Fleetwood said. I've been knocking on the door for a while now, and this is the best chance I've had in a long time. Unable to take advantage of the easier front side of the Old Course, the Australian turned in even par and rattled off three consecutive pars to kick off his inward nine. Hovland was able to convert his birdie opportunity, and the two continued to trade blows on the back nine as each made their way to a 200 score through 54 holes. T5. Scottie Scheffler and Si Woo Kim (-11): The world No. 1 had his opportunities to stake his claim on this championship, but the putter simply let him down. McIlroy and Hovland will head into the final round with a four-stroke edge over both Smith and Cameron Young ,who struggled on Saturday and sit at 12 under. Turning in 4-under 32, it was the par-4 10th which proved to be a pivotal moment for the two.

Viktor Hovland sits atop the Round 3 leaderboard at The Open Championship on Saturday, shooting a 4 under through seven holes. Hovland hit for par on the ...

Cameron Smith (1-over 73) and Cameron Young (1-under 71) are tied for third at the end of Round 3 with a tournament score of 12 under. Here are the top notes to know from Round 2 of The Open Championship at St. Andrews. "You need those little bits of luck."

Rory McIlroy faces a final-day showdown with Ryder Cup teammate Viktor Hovland after the pair grabbed a share of the lead in a thrilling third round at The ...

McIlroy's tee-shot at the par-four last finished just left of the green but a superb two-putt lead to a closing birdie, with Hovland matching the three on the 18th to ensure the pair would take a share of the lead into the final day. Hovland made a birdie of his own to also go five under for the day and join his playing partner on 15 under, while Smith posted his first birdie of the day at the ninth to stay within two of the group ahead of him. McIlroy and Hovland carded third-round 66s to pull four ahead of the chasing pack and take a share of the lead into the final day at St Andrews;watch the final round live on Sky Sports The Open from 8am on Sunday

Viktor Hovland may be doing all he can to spoil the major dreams of his Ryder Cup 'Team Europe' buddy, but he had to pay dues to Rory McIlroy here.

The reaction from McIlroy and the crowd near the green was electric. The shot was so good, though, that it was never going anywhere but straight in. Both players were left with chips onto the greeen, but McIlroy was down in a greenside bunker.

Get all of the latest Golf news from The Scotsman. Providing fresh perspective online for news across the UK.

Kevin Kisner leapt up the leaderboard with a best-of-the-day 65, having gone out in 30 when there was no wind. His day was summed up by a birdie attempt at the last ducking left of the hole. Tommy Fleetwood, the 2019 runner-up, finished strongly, picking up three birdies in the last five holes, as he signed for a 66 to give himself an outside chance of a first major win. All that resulted in a burst of four straight birdies before adding another gain at the tenth. He then topped his tee shot at the last but still birdied it. He wasn’t far away from another eagle after finding the heart of the 14th with a majestic second short, but a birdie there gave him the outright lead for the first time.

Viktor Hovland and Rory McIlroy are the final twosome Sunday in the 150th Open. About all they will share ahead of that 2:50 p.m. BST tee time, however, ...

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Rory McIlroy moved into the void left by the departure of Tiger Woods at the 150th Open on Saturday as he took a share of the lead.

He missed a 10-foot birdie chance on the 16th and then three-putted the 17th for a bogey. Johnson was also within three shots until a bogey on the 13th and another on the par-5 14th, where his long eagle putt raced up a hill, across the green and into a pot bunker. Smith missed a short birdie chance on the 18th and had a 73. This is his first big moment in a major, and he sounded up to the task. He played a safe pitch onto the green and two-putted for bogey. Cameron Smith, who started with a two-shot lead, took double bogey on the 13th hole when he tried a bold play with his feet in a pot bunker.

At the 150th British Open, the 33-year-old from Northern Ireland is trying to end a drought, while the 24-year-old from Norway is looking for his first ...

“Yeah, I mean, it’s pretty crazy from where I grew up and so far away from playing the PGA Tour, European Tour, for that matter major championships,” he said. “Certainly there wasn’t a lot of chat going on through the last few holes this evening either,” McIlroy said. “Talked about a whole bunch of stuff,” McIlroy said about Saturday. “Talked about footwear. Crowds along the fence beside No. 18 began to thin even if empty cans and cups on the ground did not. “I think for sure,” he said. “I think we were obviously both kind of doing our own thing,” Hovland said. It probably keeps both of us a little loose.” They drove the hell out of No. 18 on this course full of drivable par-4s, and then they walked, McIlroy looking up at the Rusacks Hotel for the windows from which his parents, wife and daughter watch. So it was a good mix.” It has led him all the way to this hopeful, precarious Sunday: sesquicentennial Open, runaway sentiment, tied for the Sunday morning lead with 24-year-old Norwegian phenom Viktor Hovland at 16 under par, well out ahead of Cameron Smith and Cameron Young at 12 under, Scottie Scheffler and Si Woo Kim at 11 under. Those 29 help make the meaning inflate and the noise boom. Those 29 color his pursuit of a drought-destroyer at the world’s foremost course and event.

McIlroy leapfrogged to the top of the leaderboard with a stunning bunker shot on No. 10 for eagle. He and Hovland were tied heading into the final round on ...

But McIlroy made birdies of his own on Nos. 5, 6 and 9 before his eagle from the sand on No. 10 and another birdie on No. 15 that gave him back the outright lead. McIlroy might be nine years older, but he and Hovland developed a good rapport after playing (and losing) on the same Ryder Cup squad for Europe last year. It was not quite enough to shake free of Hovland in the third round. McIlroy is trying to end an eight-year major drought by prevailing at the ultimate Open venue. “Talked about a whole bunch of stuff,” McIlroy said. The weather is forecast to remain relatively benign on Sunday, with moderate winds and temperatures in the mid-70s. “There’s a lot of things that can happen,” Hovland said. “I love that I have got so much support,” he said. But Hovland, a 24-year-old Norwegian who excelled at Oklahoma State before turning professional in 2019, did not let McIlroy enjoy the lead alone for long. McIlroy, from Northern Ireland, was certainly the crowd favorite, but Hovland, a dynamic presence, did not shrink from the challenge. He and Hovland were tied heading into the final round on Sunday. “It was skill to get it somewhere close,” McIlroy said.

Rory McIlroy and Viktor Hovland are tied after 54 holes at the Open Championship, but Hovland doesn't mind playing the underdog role.

“But that doesn’t mean I’m going to hold back tomorrow.” “What a wild 2 on that hole,” Hovland said. “I’m pretty good at doing nothing,” he said. At the end of the day, I’ve just got to play my game and not worry about anything else.” They tee off at 2:50 p.m. local on Sunday (9:50 a.m. ET), which means they have lots of time to kill. His best run this year came in the spring, when he had strong finishes in three-straight marquee events: T4 at the Genesis Invitational, T2 at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, T9 at the Players Championship. And at the end of the day, well, there’s still some shouts there for me as well. He’s tied for 12th twice, most recently in last year’s Open Championship. McIlroy, who grew up in Northern Ireland, will be the fan favorite, as the former World No. 1 (and current No. 2) is looking for his first major title in eight years. They started Saturday tied at 10 under, three behind Cameron Smith, but shot matching 66s and now go off in the final pairing on Sunday afternoon. He’s made nine of 11 cuts but has just four top 25s and zero top 10s. Crowds, anywhere, are often pro-Rory, but the 33 year old received one of the biggest ovations of the day when he holed out from the bunker for eagle on the par-4 10th, which gave him a brief lead.

McIlroy and Hovland have a 4-stroke lead at the 150th Open Championship, but can anyone else in the field catch them?

McIlroy has never finished in the top 10 of all four majors in a single season, and he's set to not only do just that but break his eight-year major drought at St. Andrews. Pick: Rory McIlroy (10/11) Dustin Johnson (-10): With length to drive the green on short par-4s and a knack for lag putting, St. Andrews seemed to set up well for Johnson to contend to win his third major championship. Patrick McDonald, golf writer: McIlroy is riding a wave of momentum, and it is as if he can do no wrong at the Old Course. This week has been a throwback to 2014 where he often played with the perfect blend of aggression and discipline. His game is as tidy as it's been in year, and he's shooting the scores to prove it. He's got the potential to go really low on Sunday, but the way he was knocked round by the Old Course's mounds and bunkers late in the third round does not bode well for an epic comeback. Scottie Scheffler (-11): A strong 3-under 69 moved the reigning Masters champion one spot up the leaderboard and a little bit closer to being able to contend for a second major championship in this stellar 2022 season. Cameron Young (-12): One of the hottest PGA Tour rookies has delivered an impressive showing in his Open debut, including the way he salvaged a 1-under 71 despite two bogeys and a double-bogey from his spot in the final pairing. Scheffler had his best day of the tournament so far when it comes to hitting approach shots into these Old Course greens, and it paid off to set up five birdies on the day. After a 64 on Thursday, a 69 on Friday and then a 71 on Saturday, it would be remarkable to see him reverse the trend and tap back into that early-tournament form. Those mistakes and mishits didn't cost him too many spots on the leaderboard, but those two strokes would have put him in a much better position to catch the leaders. More recent and realistic examples of notable final-round comebacks at The Open include Padraig Harrington winning from six strokes back in 2007, Ernie Els winning from six back in 2012 and Phil Mickelson winning from five back in 2013. Cameron Smith (-12): After two days of making nearly everything on the greens, Smith wasn't rolling in putts with the same consistency on Saturday as the championship's 54-hole leader.

When Rory McIlroy last landed a Major as far back as Valhalla in 2014, Viktor Hovland was a 17-year-old who had just won the Norwegian Amateur. Skip advert.

Hovland even admitted that he and Rory might make a solid Ryder Cup pairing in the years to come. “Rory is a good guy, so I don't mind saying good shot to him. So it was a good mix.” Hopefully we could have a similar impact to when Henrik won The Open a few years ago, and just get more people to play golf and watch it on TV.” Rory and Harry (Diamond) are good guys, and we chatted it up a little bit. “It's pretty crazy from where I grew up and so far away from playing the PGA Tour, European Tour, for that matter Major championships.

Viktor Hovland has never been closer to winning one of golf's four majors than he is heading into the fourth round at the 2022 Open Championship.

He also carded the lowest 72-hole score by an amateur in the U.S. Open that year, turning in a 4-under 280 to break Jack Nicklaus' previous record of 2-under 282 set in 1960. Hovland attended Oklahoma State from 2016-19. (Collin Morikawa won with a score of 15-under 265). Hovland thus far has turned in rounds of 4-under 68, 6-under 66 and 6-under 66. Hovland, a fourth-year professional on the PGA Tour, is tied atop the leaderboard with Rory McIlroy at 16 under par after three rounds. No, Hovland has never won the Open Championship. He has never won any of golf's four majors, which include the Masters, PGA Championship, U.S. Open and Open Championship.

Hovland, a fourth-year professional on the PGA Tour, is tied atop the leaderboard with Rory McIlroy at 16 under par after three rounds. He stands to enjoy his ...

He also carded the lowest 72-hole score by an amateur in the U.S. Open that year, turning in a 4-under 280 to break Jack Nicklaus' previous record of 2-under 282 set in 1960. Hovland attended Oklahoma State from 2016-19. (Collin Morikawa won with a score of 15-under 265). Hovland thus far has turned in rounds of 4-under 68, 6-under 66 and 6-under 66. Hovland, a fourth-year professional on the PGA Tour, is tied atop the leaderboard with Rory McIlroy at 16 under par after three rounds. No, Hovland has never won the Open Championship. He has never won any of golf's four majors, which include the Masters, PGA Championship, U.S. Open and Open Championship.