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‘Butcher of Hoylake’ carves a commanding Open lead, Aussies fade
By Mark Tallentire
Brian Harman awoke to a swathe of joshing headlines referring to his hobby of hunting wild animals but despite the expectation he would waver, the American stood firm and maintained his five-shot overnight lead.
Only two left-handers have won the Open, Phil Mickelson the last of them ten years ago. But unless there is a final-round capitulation of Greg Norman 1996 Masters proportions, or someone scores in the low 60s and sets a testing clubhouse lead, they will be joined by the 36-year-old native of Georgia state. The Claret Jug is indeed in his cross sights.
After a bad start that saw Harman – “I killed a pig to let off steam” – slip to within two shots of Jon Rahm at six under, the American got them both back before the turn, extended his lead with birdies at the 11th and 12th then parred his way back to the clubhouse.
Asked if his hobby helps with his golf, Harman replied: “Yeah, the patience and the strategy for sure. When I go out turkey hunting I can spend all day out there, and like I said, hunting is something else that I do that makes me lose track of time.”
Cameron Young of the US compiled a 66 with only one bogey to get to seven under and propel himself into the final pairing with Harman, and will be hoping he learnt something from the experience of playing in the penultimate group with the eventual winner Cameron Smith at St Andrews last year, when he finished one shot adrift in second.
Brian Harman teeing off at the 17th.Credit: AP
“I think you just kind of have to see how the first couple holes play out and then you maybe start aiming at things that you might not otherwise,” Young said.
“Tomorrow we’re going to plan on the same attack as the last few days and kind of see where we are after a few holes.”
Jason Day was the best of the four Australians on show and he got to six under with a putt up a greenside swale and into the cup at the par-three ninth but when he tried the same thing with his third at the 14th the ball came back to him and he had to hole a testing putt just to get away with a bogey five.
He finished on five under and afterwards declined all press requests and left by the front of the clubhouse, presumably for the practice range which is on the other side of the road from the course.
Jason Day looks at his putt on the 13th hole.Credit: AP
Rahm was the biggest improver of the day, starting on two over and getting to six under after playing the back nine in 30 with six birdies, the last of them on the 18th and in full earshot of Harman and Tommy Fleetwood, the final pairing waiting to get under way on the nearby first tee.
“That’s the best round I’ve played on a links golf course ever,” Rahm said. “It’s my lowest round on a links course and it’s also the lowest round shot on this [version of the] course. The job today was to come out and give myself the best opportunity I could. Yeah, it feels really good, but it’s a lot of work to do tomorrow.”
Smith is unaccustomed to starting third rounds as early as this one, and such was the post-breakfast interest in his pairing with the No.1 Scottie Scheffler that three TV crews followed their every movement for the first few holes. The Aussie made birdies at the third and sixth, the latter with a 20-footer, though he had handed one back at the fourth with a miss from three feet.
“I didn’t really even hit a bad putt, just misread it a little bit,” he said.
Cameron Smith on the first tee.Credit: Reuters
On the plus side, he picked up two more shots on the back to sign for a 68 and earned a later start, midday with Patrick Reed, though he felt he had missed out on a day when Rahm showed what was possible.
“If you’re trying to be aggressive, and generally major winners are aggressive players, it can bite you in the bum,” said the Aussie, who had a mere 26 putts. “I feel as though I played good enough to do it. I hit a lot of good putts, particularly on that back nine, that just either skirted the edge or didn’t go in. I’m sure I’ll keep going down the leaderboard as the day goes on.“
He did too, as did Min Woo Lee, playing in the penultimate group and accompanied by his major-winning sister Minjee. His challenge began to fizzle out with a dropped shot at the first and by the time he reached the turn he had dropped two more.
A 34 on the back nine got him back to two under and into a final round with Rickie Fowler, though he admits his chance of winning has gone.
“Someone has got to go out and post a score to catch Brian, but yeah, I feel like I’m out of the question,” Lee said. “It’s do-able.”
Adam Scott finished as he started, on three over, after creating several birdie chances and taking three of them, but he could not get the putter to work for a full shift and eventually gave the shots back.
Viktor Hovland of Norway was another to get round in 66 for five under and he will partner Rahm in the fourth round. Antoine Rozner of France had an eagle and birdie in his last four holes and pairs up with Day.
Fleetwood, despite the huge local backing, was only around in level par while Rory McIlroy was another to have the crowd on his side and a bad day on the greens, with 32 putts. He picked up three shots in the first six holes but could not find another birdie. He starts today at three under and too far back.
Christo Lamprecht, joint leader after the first round and the only amateur to make the cut, had a 76 to drop to eight over but the South African is already guaranteed the Silver Medal.
The man they all have to catch is Harman, who the tabloids have dubbed “The Butcher of Hoylake”.
“I like that one better than the Harmanator,” Harman said. “That made me chuckle.”