Former winner Shane Lowry wasn’t pleased with the way Royal Troon was set up after a tough day on the links at The Open Championship.
Shane Lowry
Shane Lowry didn’t appear too pleased with how the course was set up at Royal Troon after dropping down the leaderboard on a dramatic third day at The Open.
Lowry held the lead after 36 holes but now finds himself the chaser after a brutal day on the Scottish coast where he slumped to a 6-over 77.
The 2019 champion came unstuck at the signature par-3 Postage Stamp where he found the coffin bunker and, after taking his medicine, carded a double bogey.
On the back nine Lowry and his playing partner, qualifier Daniel Brown, endured some of the worst conditions we have seen in an Open in recent memory.
World number one Scottie Scheffler, who played a few groups ahead of Lowry, later told reporters it was the toughest round he had ever played in his career thus far.
“You’d have to question why there wasn’t a couple of tees put forward today, to be honest,” Lowry told reporters after his round.
Lowry thought the 15th and 17th holes were playing particularly long.
“15 is playing like 500 [yards] into that wind,” he said.
“They keep trying to make holes longer, yet the best hole in this course is about 100 yards.”
Shane Lowry
Shane Lowry
Despite being a little bit miffed, Lowry was optimistic he is still in the hunt to add a second major title to his resume.
“There’s no doubt I’m going to go out there tomorrow thinking I can win the tournament, but it’s just hard right now,” he said.
“You have to give me a bit of leeway.
“Ten minutes ago I had to putt for par on the 18th green, and I’m here talking to you guys now trying to figure out how I shot 77 in my own head.”
He added: “This game is just hard, and now you feel how hard it was for playing well the first two days in those conditions. Honestly, it was brutal.
“I guess for me the eighth hole was [the] killer really, make par there, and you can still shoot 3 or 4-over from there and still be leading the tournament.
“[But] I just pulled my wedge shot there.
“Look, I don’t really know what to say. It was a grind. It wasn’t much fun.”
Billy Horschel leads
Horschel was also playing in the worst conditions but somehow cultivated a 2-under 69 to reach 4-under and set up a glorious chance to land his first major title.
Justin Rose and the aforementioned Brown are one behind.
They are among six players, including Xander Schauffele, on 3-under.
Further back, but also still in the hunt, are Scheffler, Sam Burns and Thriston Lawrence.
Justin Thomas and Adam Scott cannot be discounted either.
Nor can you rule out former world number one Jon Rahm.
Horschel said: “I’ve worked my entire life to be in this position. Listen, I’ve been in the lead many times going into a final round.
“Obviously this is a major. It means a little bit more. We all know that.
“We know what this means to everyone. I know what it means to my legacy in the game of golf and what I want to do and accomplish.
“But I’m excited to be here. I’ve wanted to be here my entire life. I’m finally here. I’m embracing it.”
Rose added: “All in all I’m delighted to look at that leaderboard and say I’m one back going into tomorrow
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