It’s the final Major of the year as the world’s best golfers bid for the Open Championship at Royal Troon.
You can follow all the action right here over the next few days.
Irish in action:
Shane Lowry -1 (77)
Pádraig Harrington +3 (71)
Tom McKibbin +9 (77)
Darren Clarke +11 (76)
- 1.35pm: Matthew Jordan, Justin Thomas
- 1.45pm: Adam Scott, Shane Lowry
- 1.55pm: Scottie Scheffler, Daniel Brown
- 2.05pm: Justin Rose, Xander Schauffele
- 2.15pm: Russell Henley, Sam Burns
- 2.25pm: Thriston Lawrence, Billy Horschel
His par attempt comes up whiskers short as he taps in for another bogey, bringing him back to -1. Having been -8 standing on the eight tee, it would have been impossible to envisage what was to come but the conditions got ugly and Lowry really began to struggle from there.
He’s only three back from Billy Horschel who will hold the over-night lead so still in the fight but he will no doubt be frustrated.
He didn’t catch that well but thankfully it didn’t catch a bunker on the way in.
From the thick stuff, his ball goes wild and right and it bounces in the stand, running along the edge before eventually settling up there. It’s been one of those rounds, and he’s not home and dry yet.
Ironically, it’s after settling up there behind a Galway flag which is hung up in the grandstand. The Offaly man is now taking relief and thankfully it’s a free drop.
He sends the crowd wild with a brilliant up and down on the last. He had to play a qualifying round to just make it to Troon but he’s been more than worth his place.
He really enjoyed that on eighteen, punching the air passionately as it hit the cup. Chants of Justin, Justin Rose ring around the grandstands. It’s been a very hard earned 73 for him.
He goes wild off the tee and initially it looked to be heading out towards the hotel but it hangs in. It’s going to be difficult and he’ll be battling again.
Then it’s a carbon copy of the first for Daniel Brown as his drive hangs up on the side of a fairway bunker, giving him nothing to work with. He’ll also be fighting.
Nobody is safe out there.
Billy Horschel drops one on the last to come back to -4. Still it’s a very good round for him, ending with a 69.
With Brown in trouble, -4 could be the top score.
He looked to be in trouble on the last with his ball landing in a difficult green-side bunker but he plays a high flop to perfection, dropping it three foot from the pin. Roll that in and he’ll reach the house on -3.
He has waited a long, long time for that. After missing putt after putt, he finally drains one and it could be huge. It’s a massive par save on a par three that, in these conditions, is playing a lot more like a par four.
He clenches his fists and punches the air. He’s still in this fight, three off the lead.
Daniel Brown is also under pressure on seventeen having found a bunker. He’ll tap in for bogey to drop back to -5. Lowry could do with a moment of magic. Any chance?
He struck it well, but the driver gets a belt for itself off the ground as, despite taking a good flight, his ball catches a green-side bunker.
It could well be plugged and it’s the story of his day so far with very little going right for him.
He’s still very much in the hunt there.
He plays another perfect chip to seventeen, getting himself out of a sticky situation to save par. Justin Rose looks set to drop a shot on the same hole after his bunker shot came out a bit hot.
Lowry got that par putt, and he’s now on the seventeenth tee.
Brown is still foot perfect, and he storms into the lead with another brilliant birdie bringing him to -6. That’s two in his last five holes as he continues to impress in his first ever major appearance. His ball-striking has been sublime, creating lots of chances for himself.