Viktor Hovland

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

Rory McIlroy's stunning eagle on the par-four 10th and Viktor Hovland's bogey-free six-under 66 highlighted a phenomenal day for the new Open Championship ...

The Open @TheOpen The Open @TheOpen The Open @TheOpen Hard to convey how pro-Rory the fans are. Not to go all Talor Gooch, but borderline Ryder Cup atmosphere He's there with Cameron Smith, who led the field at 13 under heading into the weekend but shot a one-over 73. 'Pretty tasty'

Viktor Hovland caresses his 3 wood onto the 18th green#The150thOpen pic.twitter.com/Veb93AVbdE The Open @TheOpen Hovland to the top of the leaderboard 🔝 He joins Cam Smith on -12#The150thOpen pic.twitter.com/ho8hUceATh #TheOpen

📺 @nbc and @peacockTV
💻 https://t.co/YiRSu9hPWb pic.twitter.com/Oi3u7wrYep The reaction from the spectators at St Andrews after Rory McIlroy's eagle at the 10th says it all.

📺: @nbc and @peacockTV
💻: https://t.co/YiRSu9hPWb pic.twitter.com/eh4O0lSey6 🔉 Here's THAT McIlroy hole out with Open Radio commentary 📻

Tune in to feel it all 👉 https://t.co/qF7l0C0L4l#The150thOpen pic.twitter.com/zU6fUlToFM

Moving day brings new leaders after a pair of 66s from Rory McIlroy and Viktor Hovland, with Cameron Young and Cameron Smith four shots back.

McIlroy and Hovland, Ryder Cup teammates, reached that point while still in the midst of open warfare. I keep telling myself and keep saying all the time that you want to get yourself to the back nine on a Saturday with an opportunity to do something great. The 2019 champion believes he has “no chance” of a second Open victory. “I felt like through the middle of the front nine I was just going along OK, not doing anything great,” Lowry explained. He leapt with joy at Augusta National having found the bottom of the cup at the 72nd hole from a greenside bunker. The former world No 1 did make a birdie at the last after a topped drive but at 10 under requires snookers. Hatton looked on at the slow play of his partner, Talor Gooch, with murderous intent. McIlroy’s subsequent advantage, earned at the 14th, was cancelled out at the penultimate hole. The Norwegian rattled off four birdies in a row from the 3rd. What a mockery was made of that concept at the 10th, where he holed out for an eagle. Cameron Young and Cameron Smith are closest to the leaders, at 12 under. The Spaniard would surely approve of McIlroy claiming number five at St Andrews. In the space of almost eight occasionally painful years, McIlroy has never been closer to achieving such a feat.

Rory McIlroy moved into the void left by the departure of Tiger Woods at The Open, holing a bunker shot for eagle and revving up the gallery at St. Andrews ...

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. 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. "But at the same time, I need to keep in my own little world and try to play a good round of golf. 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. Hovland, already with six victories worldwide in his four years since leaving Oklahoma State as a U.S. Amateur champion, could appreciate the support for McIlroy and all he has done. McIlroy holed a bunker shot for eagle on the 10th hole that he described as part skill and part luck, but it was pure magic. "I think it's appreciating the moment as well and appreciating the fact that it's unbelievably cool to have a chance to win The Open at St Andrews," McIlroy said. And I'm going to try to make a dream come true tomorrow." Both made birdie on the final hole for a 6-under 66.

There's a 50/50 chance, give or take, that former Oklahoma State star Viktor Hovland takes home the Claret Jug on Sunday and wins his first major at the ...

McIlroy matched Hovland’s energy from there, though, making birdie at 5, 6 and 9 to go out with a 3-under 33. Made par at No. 1 and then again at No. 2. Playing from behind to start the day, he now shares the lead with McIlroy at 16 under and is four strokes clear of the next contenders.

Rory McIlroy and Viktor Hovland, who both signed for 66s, have separated themselves from the field and lead by four entering Sunday.

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. So you just kind of have to go, hey, that was a sick shot,” Hovland said. “I was thinking what the hell am I doing here?” Hovland said, breaking into laughter. 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. And that was a nice bonus.” But first, he will have to separate from Viktor Hovland, who is attempting to become the first Norwegian to win a major.

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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Viktor Hovland (R) and Rory McIlroy (L) shake hands on the 18th green after their third round duel at St. Andrews.

Hovland kept pace with a run of seven straight pars before a slip-up from McIlroy at the 17th saw the Norwegian draw level. But that doesn't mean I'm going to hold back tomorrow." And that was the case today as well." At the end of the day, I've just got to play my game and not worry about anything else." However, McIlroy believes the discussions -- which varied from footwear to what Hovland had been up to over the last fortnight -- will naturally dial down on championship Sunday. It set the tone for a clinic of putting skill from the Norwegian who, having bogeyed twice in each of his opening two rounds, would later sign an unblemished scorecard.

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 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.

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.

ST. ANDREWS, Scotland — Rory McIlroy doesn't need any reminders. So, don't bother reminding him that he hasn't won a major championship in eight years.

“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. So, going by history, perhaps only McIlroy, Hovland, Young and Smith have a chance to hoist the Claret Jug by dinner time Sunday in Scotland. The 24-year-old Hovland is trying to realize a dream of his own. I sort of called it my little cocoon, just trying to stay in my little cocoon for the whole week. I got out of what I did for three days and it was a tough lesson. “I’ve finished off enough golf tournaments in my time to feel like I know what to do [Sunday].’’

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.

The Open Championship is teed up for a mouthwatering final showdown after a pulsating battle between Rory McIlroy and Viktor Hovland at St. Andrews, ...

Hovland kept pace with a run of seven straight pars before a slip-up from McIlroy at the 17th saw the Norwegian draw level. But that doesn't mean I'm going to hold back tomorrow." And that was the case today as well." At the end of the day, I've just got to play my game and not worry about anything else." However, McIlroy believes the discussions -- which varied from footwear to what Hovland had been up to over the last fortnight -- will naturally dial down on championship Sunday. It set the tone for a clinic of putting skill from the Norwegian who, having bogeyed twice in each of his opening two rounds, would later sign an unblemished scorecard.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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

Rory McIlroy and Viktor Hovland share a four-shot lead heading into final round of the British Open, each recording a 66.

He added birdies on the par-4 11th, par-5 12th and par-4 14th, before dropping a point on the par-3 15th with his lone bogey in three rounds. He missed a 10-foot birdie chance on the 16th and then three-putted the 17th for a bogey. “Didn’t really make many putts, had a lot of good looks and fortunately made a few in the middle. 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. This is his first big moment in a major, and he sounded up to the task. Smith missed a short birdie chance on the 18th and had a 73. 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.

Viktor Hovland, not Cameron Smith, was supposed to be the guy, if there was one, to take down Rory McIlroy on Sunday at St. Andrews.

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