Royal Birkdale sees Sam Burns lead as Tommy Fleetwood dreams of Open win
American Sam Burns holds a two-shot lead heading into the final round of The Open Championship at Royal Birkdale. Burns carded a five-under 65 on Saturday, placing him ahead of New Zealand’s Ryan Fox and South Korea’s Kim Si-woo. Burns’ performance included a record-equalling 62 in Friday’s second round, followed by a 65, making his total of 127 shots across two rounds the lowest in men’s major championship history. His success comes after his second child, daughter Belle, arrived early on 3 July, allowing him to participate in the tournament.
Tommy Fleetwood, a local favourite from Southport, remains in contention, five shots behind Burns. Despite late bogeys on the 15th and 18th holes during his third-round 69, Fleetwood’s dream of winning The Open at his home course persists. He expressed that being within one shot of the lead on the back nine of The Open was close to his golfing utopia, and he continues to envision holding the Claret Jug, a dream he has held since childhood.
Fleetwood’s Local Connection and Support
The connection between Fleetwood and the Royal Birkdale community is evident, with shuttle buses featuring an AI-generated image of him holding the Claret Jug. This image symbolises a long-held aspiration for the 35-year-old Englishman, who grew up just three miles from the course. The galleries have shown unconditional support for Fleetwood throughout the week, providing strong visual and audio encouragement.
A notable roar from the crowd accompanied Fleetwood’s birdie on the par-four fifth hole, a sound that resonated across the course. Another impressive putt for a two on the par-three seventh further intensified the atmosphere. These moments propelled Fleetwood into a share of third place and brought him within one shot of the lead after another birdie on the par-four 11th, solidifying his position as a strong contender in the eyes of many.
Burns’ Record-Breaking Performance
Sam Burns‘ exceptional play has been a highlight of the tournament. His combined score of 127 from the second and third rounds (62, 65) marks the lowest two-round total in the history of men’s major championships. Burns, a two-time US Ryder Cup player, finished runner-up at last month’s US Open. His participation at Birkdale was initially uncertain due to the expected arrival of his second child, but the early birth of his daughter allowed him to compete.
Burns stated that he feels he has nothing to lose in the final round, emphasising his focus on execution. He expressed acceptance of any outcome, looking forward to returning home to his family, and hoping to bring some hardware with him. He will play alongside Ryan Fox in the final round, with their tee time set for 14:20 BST.
DeChambeau and Fox in Contention
American superstar Bryson DeChambeau also remains in the mix, four shots behind Burns after shooting a one-under 69 on Saturday. DeChambeau, a two-time US Open champion, is the only player in the top 10 with major-winning experience. His round on Saturday followed a Friday incident where two shots were docked from his score. Despite some barracking from the crowd, DeChambeau appeared focused, delivering powerful drives and precise iron shots.
Ryan Fox of New Zealand made a significant move up the leaderboard, equalling the lowest single-round score in major golf history with a 62 in the third round. Fox, who started the day at level par, achieved nine birdies and one bogey. A birdie on the par-four 18th could have resulted in the first-ever round of 61 in a men’s major, but his long putt fell short. His 62 matched previous rounds by Lucas Herbert and Sam Burns in the tournament. Another New Zealander, Kazuma Kobori, also climbed into the top 20 after firing a three-under 67, moving him to four under for the tournament.
The leaderboard remains tight, setting the stage for an open final round on Sunday. DeChambeau‘s post-round activities included a conversation with R&A chief executive Mark Darbon, where his request to see his Friday scorecard was reportedly declined. He later signed autographs for young fans, choosing not to speak to the media for the sixth consecutive major round.
The current standings show Sam Burns at -10, followed by Ryan Fox (NZ) and Kim Si-woo (Kor) at -8. Other notable players include R Gerard (US) and L Herbert (Aus) at -7, and Bryson DeChambeau (US) and Ludvig Aberg (Swe) at -6. Tommy Fleetwood (Eng) is currently at -5, with Rory McIlroy (NI) at -2.
The final round promises an exciting conclusion at Royal Birkdale, with several players vying for the prestigious Claret Jug.
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Source: bbc.com
