Open Championship Drama
Ryan Fox Equals Major Record With 62 as Sam Burns Takes Open Lead at Royal Birkdale
Anonymous
Sam Burns has taken a two-shot lead heading into the final round of The Open Championship at Royal Birkdale, shooting a 65 on Saturday to move ahead of the field. The Daily Item reported that Burns — a five-time PGA Tour winner — is chasing a major he nearly never played.
Burns leads by two over New Zealander Ryan Fox, who became the third player in 24 hours to shoot a 62 and equal the lowest round ever recorded in a men's major. The Independent reported that Fox's stunning round earned him a spot in the final pairing on Sunday.
Fox Fires a 62 to Join a Historic Club
Ryan Fox shot an eight-under 62 on Saturday, matching the lowest single round in men's major championship history. He was the third player to hit that mark in just 24 hours at Royal Birkdale. The New Zealander briefly held the clubhouse lead before Burns surged past him late in the day.
Fox's round puts him in the final group for Sunday's closing round, giving him a real shot at his first major title. Irish News noted that Fox capitalised on the day's benign conditions to post his career-best score in a major.
Sam Burns Surges Late to Claim the Lead
Burns shot a 65 to move two clear of Fox at the top of the leaderboard. It is a remarkable position for a player who, according to The Daily Item, had not originally planned to compete in this year's Open. Burns has five PGA Tour wins but is still searching for his first major.
Burns sits joint 31st in the all-time Open standings based on his previous results, with finishes spread across the 40s and 70s alongside one missed cut. Sunday will be his clearest major opportunity yet.
DeChambeau Still Alive at Six Under Par
Bryson DeChambeau, the reigning US Open champion, managed to add just one shot to his total on Saturday. He sits at six under par — still in contention but four shots off Burns' lead. Belfast Telegraph noted that DeChambeau will need a big final round to stay in the hunt.
R&A Steps In After Two Record-Breaking Rounds
After two 62s lit up the scorecard on Friday, the R&A — the body that runs The Open — moved to protect the course. Officials made adjustments to try to make Royal Birkdale tougher on Saturday. Irish News reported that the relatively calm wind had left the course open to low scoring.
The adjustments did slow things down slightly, but Fox still matched the record and Burns still went low. Sunday's conditions will be key. If the wind picks up off the Irish Sea, the leaderboard could shift dramatically before the Claret Jug is awarded.
Sentiment
NeutralNEGATIVENEUTRALPOSITIVE
Publishers
5
Articles
4
Reach
5
Topics
A
AnonymousAuthor