RD 3: Shubhankar's Impressive 4-Under Puts Him Just 6 Shots Behind Leader Horschel's Epic Play

Posted by Admin 21 Jul 2024

Written by : Divyanshu Sahu

Billy Horschel made history at Royal Troon on Saturday with an epic round, defying both nature and odds to produce one of his finest rounds ever. Horschel displayed steely determination and skill as he battled through treacherous conditions to secure 54-hole lead at The 152nd Open and take home its prized Claret Jug trophy.

Minst and Rain at The 152nd Open

Weather odds at the 3rd round of The 152nd Open at Royal Troon (via PGA Tour)

Horschel’s Heroics in the Rain

Horschel teed at the 152nd Open

Horschel caught fire, making birdies on the 4th, 6th, 7th, and 9th holes (via PGA Tour)

Horschel teed off in the penultimate group alongside Justin Rose just as the weather took a turn for the worse. The rain poured down, and a shift in the wind transformed the course. The front nine, which had been into the wind for the first two days, suddenly played downwind, and Horschel seized the opportunity.

Starting with three pars, Horschel soon caught fire, making birdies on the 4th, 6th, 7th, and 9th holes to turn in just 32 strokes. The back nine, softened by rain and battered by wind, was a different beast. On the treacherous par-3 17th, many struggled to even reach the green, but Horschel kept his composure, producing a masterclass in survival. His short game was on point, with five incredible up-and-downs, including near chip-ins on the 15th, 16th, and 17th. Despite dropping shots on the 11th and 18th, his 69 was, given the circumstances, the round of his life.

"This round in The Open is by far the best I've played in a major. I had to grind out a score coming in,”

Horschel said. "I knew it wasn't going to be pretty. I knew it was going to be tough, but I was prepared for what the last nine holes would entail. It would be the biggest win of my career. I have won a lot of great events, but this one would top all of them and it's something I've wanted in my professional golf career."

Leaderboard in Flux

Xander Schauffele finding the perfect angle for his shot (via PGA Tour)

Horschel will start the final round with a one-shot lead over a group of six players, including major winners Justin Rose and Xander Schauffele. The leaderboard is tightly packed, with twelve players within four strokes, making Sunday’s final round a tantalizing prospect.

Thriston Lawrence and Sam Burns took advantage of the more benign conditions earlier in the day, each shooting 65 to reach three-under-par. They share this score with Schauffele, Rose, Russell Henley, and Daniel Brown. Brown appeared set for the outright lead after playing superbly, but bogeyed the 17th and double-bogeyed the 18th, leaving him at three-under.

Shane Lowry, the 36-hole leader, struggled in the afternoon downpour, shooting a tough 77 that included five bogeys on the back nine. Despite this, Lowry remains in contention.

Shubhankar Sharma's Rollercoaster Round

Sharma opened birdie-birdie with a 28-footer and a 14-footer. Despite a bogey on the third, he birdied the Par-5 fourth and sixth. A par on the Postage Stamp eighth was followed by a bogey on the ninth, turning in 2-under. After a birdie on the 10th and pars on the next two holes, he birdied the Par-4 13th from 13 feet. A double bogey on the 15th was a setback, but Sharma rallied with a 30-footer for birdie on the 16th, narrowly missed a birdie on the 17th, and holed an 18-footer on the 18th, pumping his fist in celebration.

"I was not disappointed [with the 15th]. We got a bad ruling, but we made two birdies coming in, so I'm quite happy," he said.

Reflecting on Friday evening's "nervy" three hours, Sharma described the fluctuating cut line and his relief at making it through.

"When I finished, I was 72nd. Then it changed to 66th, 68th, 67th, and finally 69th. Missing the cut narrowly would have been very upsetting, but now I have a chance to make up," he concluded.

Sharma's resilience and determination were on full display, turning a challenging round into a strong finish, and keeping his hopes alive for a remarkable performance at The 152nd Open.

Si Woo Kim’s Ace and Amateur Standouts

Si Woo Kim's Ace at The 152nd Open

Kim’s 3-iron shot pitched just shy of the green and rolled beautifully into the cup (via PGA Tour)

The 152nd Open also saw its first hole-in-one, courtesy of Si Woo Kim on the 17th. Kim’s 3-iron shot pitched just shy of the green and rolled beautifully into the cup, much to the delight of the spectators.

Among the amateurs, Calum Scott shot a well-crafted 70 to take a three-stroke lead in the race for the Silver Medal. His one-under round helped him move inside the top 30, and he starts Sunday three clear of Amateur Champion Jacob Skov Olesen.

Looking Ahead to Super Sunday

As we head into the final round, the 152nd Open is wide open. Horschel leads, but with twelve players within four strokes, anything can happen. The stage is set for an electrifying conclusion to a thrilling tournament. Will Horschel hold his nerve, or will one of the chasers steal the spotlight? Tune in to find out as we crown the Champion Golfer of the Year!

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