Horschel holds 1-shot lead at rainy, 'brutal' Open

Mark Schlabach, a writer at ESPN who has been working for the company for a long time, wrote an article on July 20, 2024 at 9:05 PM.

TROON, Scotland -- Just over a year ago, defending champion Billy Horschel had a difficult first round at the Memorial Tournament, shooting a 12-over 84. The former FedEx Cup champion opened up about his mental challenges in the tough world of golf.

Horschel expressed that his self-belief is at an all-time low in his golfing journey during his time at Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio on June 1, 2023.

This upcoming Sunday, Horschel will have an opportunity to change how he is remembered in the last round of the 152nd Open Championship at Royal Troon Golf Club. Despite the challenging weather on Saturday, he managed to shoot a 2-under 69, bringing his total score to 4-under 209 after three rounds. This puts him one stroke ahead of six other players, such as Xander Schauffele, Sam Burns, and Justin Rose, who are all tied with him at 3-under.

"I'm thrilled," Horschel expressed. "I've dedicated my whole life to reaching this point. I've been in a similar position before, heading into the last round with the lead. But this time, it's even more significant because it's a major tournament. We all understand the importance of this moment. It has a significant impact on everyone involved. I recognize what this victory would mean for my reputation in the world of golf and the goals I aspire to achieve."

"I am thrilled to be in this place. It has always been my dream to be here, and now I am finally experiencing it. I am fully embracing this moment."

Horschel, who is 37 years old, has won eight times on the PGA Tour. While he hasn't performed well at The Open, with six missed cuts and only three made cuts in nine previous appearances, he has found success in Europe. He finished in a tie for 21st at the 2022 Open at St. Andrews in Scotland and won the 2021 BMW PGA Championship on the DP World Tour.

Horschel welcomed the challenges and toughness of playing on a links golf course. The difficulty increased on Saturday when the Scottish weather changed, bringing heavy rain and strong winds. The players faced harsh conditions, especially on the back nine holes.

The best golfer in the world, Scottie Scheffler, shot an even-par 71 and is currently in eighth place at 2 under. He described the back nine at Royal Troon as "likely the most challenging nine holes I will ever encounter."

Scheffler mentioned that he hit his driver and 3-wood well on the par-4 15th hole but still didn't make it to the green in two shots. He hit a strong drive and a powerful 3-iron on the 453-yard 18th hole.

"I don't think I often use a 3-wood on a par-3," Scheffler said. "The conditions were challenging, but I managed to stay focused and finish strong."

Many people did not like the weather and challenges at Royal Troon on Saturday.

Shane Lowry from Ireland, who won the Open Championship in 2019, began the third round with a two-shot advantage over Daniel Brown from England, a lesser-known qualifier. Lowry increased his lead to three strokes after making a birdie on the fourth hole, but he then encountered difficulties and his performance declined.

During his round, Lowry ended up in the well-known Postage Stamp, the short par-3 eighth hole, where his tee shot landed in the Coffin bunker on the left side of the green. After his chip shot missed the mark and rolled off the green, he ended up with a double-bogey 5.

Lowry struggled during the back nine, recording five bogeys. He missed putts from 5 feet on hole No. 12 and 6 feet on hole No. 14. His shot on the par-4 18th hole ended up in the grandstands, resulting in another bogey.

Lowry scored a 6-over 77 and is currently in ninth place at 1 under. His performance in the last seven holes was not as good, as he finished 7 over par.

"This game is really challenging, and now you can understand how tough it was to play well in those conditions during the first two days," Lowry expressed. "Honestly, it was difficult. I believe the eighth hole was particularly tough, as making par there was crucial. Even if you end up shooting 3 or 4 over par from there, you could still be leading the tournament. Unfortunately, I missed my wedge shot there. To be honest, I'm not sure what else to say. It was a tough struggle, not very enjoyable."

I wonder why there weren't any easier tee placements offered today. Honestly, I feel like the distances on holes 15 and 17 are quite challenging. Hole 15 is 500 yards and playing against the wind. It seems like they are always trying to make the holes longer, but the best hole on this course is only about 100 yards.

Brown, who was raised on a farm with pigs and cows in Burneston, England, is still in contention despite a couple of setbacks on the last two holes. Brown was ahead by one stroke when he sank a 5-foot putt on the 12th hole to go 6 under par, and again when he made another 5-foot putt on the 16th hole.

Brown, a regular player on the DP Tour, earned his spot in the field after successfully qualifying in the final round. Unfortunately, he lost his lead when his ball ended up in bunkers near the greens on holes 17 and 18. Despite his efforts, he was unable to recover from these challenges and ended up dropping three shots on the last two holes, putting him one shot behind Horschel.

"Yes, we're still in the same position," Brown stated. "It was challenging. I feel a bit let down by how the final two holes played out because I worked hard to reach the point I did, and it's disappointing to end on a sour note like that."

Brown, who is 29 years old, hopes to be the fourth golfer since 1900 to win in their first major championship. The other three golfers who have accomplished this feat are Francis Ouimet (1913 U.S. Open), Ben Curtis (2003 Open), and Keegan Bradley (2011 PGA Championship).

"I think many people expected me to be anxious and jittery this morning, but I have been perfectly calm," Brown stated.

Golfers who played in the morning had a more enjoyable experience compared to those who played later in the day due to the bad weather. Thriston Lawrence from South Africa had a great round, starting 10 shots behind Lowry but managing to score six birdies in eight holes on the front nine, finishing with a 6-under 65. He is now 3 under par and will be playing the final round alongside Horschel.

Burns made eight birdies on his way to a score of 65, joining a group of players at 3 under, which included Russell Henley, who shot a 66 on Saturday.

Adam Scott, Justin Thomas, and Matthew Jordan are trailing Horschel by 4 shots. Horschel will be leading a major tournament after three rounds for the first time in his career.

Horschel explained that he has been imagining himself winning the Claret Jug on the final hole on Sunday, envisioning walking out to the fans and receiving congratulations as the Open champion.

"I plan to repeat my routine tonight, and hopefully my efforts will pay off tomorrow," Horschel expressed. "If it doesn't work out as I hope, I'll continue to put in the hard work and strive to get back to a similar position in the future."