ST. ANDREWS (Scotland) – Rory McIlroy stated Tuesday that winning the 150 British Open would be his Holy Grail. Only 18 holes are left to make history and end a nearly eight year drought at major championships.
First, he must separate from Viktor Hovland who is trying to be the first Norwegian to win major. They shot matching rounds at the Old Course, shooting 66 each, to share the lead of 16-under 200.
Hovland stated that the battle for McIlroy’s lead was “very cool.” “Probably not going too quickly to forget that one. Yes, I played well, but it was also fun to play some holes with Rory.”
McIlroy had five birdies, one bogey, and an eagle at No. 10.
McIlroy stated that while it took skill to get the ball close, it was luck that the ball went in the hole. You need to have a little luck sometimes, especially when playing in big tournaments. That was a nice bonus.”
McIlroy, 33 years old, broke the birdie seal by placing two circles on No. 1’s card. McIlroy broke the birdie seal with a pair of circles at Nos. 5 and 6, and added another at the ninth to make a spectacular outward nine. He then pounded a 334-yard tee shot from 10 that caught a greenside bunker. Hovland was humbled by his hole-out eagle, which was the best shot of the day.
“That’s just an ordinary bunker shot. Hovland stated that it was just a filthy bunker shot. “When you have things like this, you just have to give one another a fist bump. And say good shot.”
Rory McIlroy from Northern Ireland plays his 17th-hole round of The 150th British Open Golf Championship at St Andrews, Scotland on July 16, 2022. (Photo by PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images
McIlroy was not as lucky when his drive at 17 came to a halt in the left rough. His second shot, which came out hot, bounced over the green, over the sand and bounced off the wall. His ball was in a divot so he hit a low shot for his third. It found the putting surface and resulted in McIlroy’s lone bogey. McIlroy made a birdie at 16 under to return to the tournament and shoot his second 66.
McIlroy is looking to add to his major glory. Hovland, however, is in contention for first time at one major event. He noted that The Open was the first major that he watched growing up and that it would be special to be at St. Andrews.
He said, “I don’t think there’s any other place than it.” It would be great to win a major close to home.
Hovland was then asked after the round if there was a moment when he thought, “This is where I want to be my whole life.”
Hovland chuckled, “I was wondering what the hell I am doing here?” It’s crazy, considering where I grew up, and far from the chance to play on the PGA Tour or European Tour. It’s very special to just be here, but to have the chance to win one is something else entirely.
The Claret Jug would be the first major won by players younger than 30 if Hovland, a 24-year-old player.
Hovland rose to the top of the leaderboard with four consecutive birdies on the front nine. He started with a 38-footer on the third hole, followed by a 42-footer on the fourth. After McIlroy’s hole out eagle at 10, Hovland made a quick birdie putt at 18, and then a two-putt birdie birdie at 18. This resulted in a bogey-free score of 66, and McIlroy will be rematching him on Sunday.
Cameron Smith reacts to a missed putt on the 7th Green during round 3 of the 150th Open Championship Golf Tournament. Mandatory Credit: Rob Schumacher – USA TODAY Sports
They trail by four strokes. Third-round leader Cameron Smith (73), who lost his putter and made a round-ruining double-bogey at 13. After a poor drive, Cameron Young (71), who played hard but made his own back-nine double-bogey at 16.
Smith stated, “The golf gods weren’t with me today.”
They might be there with McIlroy this Week. Paul McGinley, Golf Channel’s golf channel, suggested that McIlroy may finally be in the right place. He said he has played enough tournaments to know what he should do tomorrow.
McGinley stated, “I see so much coming together.” “I feel that Rory McIlroy’s golf gods have something in store.”
By: Adam Schupak
Title: 2022 British Open: Rory McIlroy and Viktor Hovland separate from the field except for each other
Sourced From: golfweek.usatoday.com/2022/07/16/2022-british-open-rory-mcilroy-viktor-hovland-separate-field-st-andrews/
Published Date: Sat, 16 Jul 2022 21:07:15 +0000
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