Justin Rose of England and Billy Horschel of the United States embrace after finishing their round on the 18th green during day three of The 152nd Open championship at Royal Troon on July 20, 2024 in Troon, Scotland. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)Harry How/Getty Images
Billy Horschel battled rainy Royal Troon and came away with a 2-under-par 69 and the 54-hole lead at the Open Championship on Saturday in Troon, South Ayrshire, Scotland.
The PGA Tour veteran stands at 4-under 209 and holds the lead outright after Cinderella story Daniel Brown of England double-bogeyed the final hole to drop to 3 under. A former FedEx Cup champion, but not known for playing well at majors, Horschel moved into position for the biggest victory of his career.
“We know what this means to everyone,” said Horschel, 37. “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.”
The six-way tie for second features Brown, Xander Schauffele, Russell Henley, Sam Burns, Thriston Lawrence of South Africa and Justin Rose of England. Of the top seven players, only Schauffele and Rose have major titles to their name.
“I think (Sunday) is going to be head down and sort of run for the finish line,” Rose said.
Irishman Shane Lowry began the day with a two-shot lead over Brown and went up by three after birdieing the fourth hole. He proceeded to make a double bogey followed by five back-nine bogeys to shoot 77 and plummet to ninth place at 1 under, one behind World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler (71).
The fickle weather conditions reshaped the leaderboard on moving day at Troon. Several players who began the day over par took advantage of a mild morning. Burns and Lawrence shot 6-under 65s, and Henley posted a 66.
Then rain and winds picked up on the Scottish seaside. Horschel, playing in the penultimate group, fared the best. He made four birdies on the front nine and his first bogey at No. 11.
Horschel then missed five straight greens in regulation at Nos. 13-17 and scrambled for five straight pars, nearly holing out for birdie from the sand at the par-5 16th.
“The one at 13 was the toughest,” Horschel said. “It was a 70-yard wedge shot. You can play it many different ways, and hit a really quality wedge shot there into the wind and to make that putt, kept some momentum going.”
A closing bogey did not keep Horschel out of the lead, as Brown spent three shots to land in a bunker at the par-4 18th, hit a poor shot out and two-putted to wrap up a 2-over 73.
Brown, 29, is ranked No. 272 in the world and making his major championship debut. Since the dawn of the Official World Golf Ranking, the only player outside the top 200 to win a major was Ben Curtis (No. 396). Keegan Bradley (2011 PGA Championship) and Curtis (2003 Open Championship) are the only players who've won in their major debut in the past 100 years.
“Obviously it’s not a normal week, but I feel like mentally I've been in a place where I've treated it like a normal week on the DP World Tour,” said Brown, who was seen taking a selfie with fans while walking the 18th. “I've not made it feel any bigger than what it is, and it is a lot bigger, obviously.”
The Englishman had some fortunate moments. At No. 7, Brown’s drive sliced right and bounded off the “Postage Stamp” green at No. 8. He hit his recovery shot to just 4 feet of the pin and made birdie, closing within one of Lowry’s lead.
Brown and Lowry then both found the Coffin bunker at the par-3 eighth. Brown bogeyed, Lowry doubled and Horschel birdied the ninth to join them at 6 under at the time.
Lowry kept tumbling, missing short par putts at Nos. 11, 12 and 14. He made a mess of No. 18, hitting one shot into the grandstand.
“Three back, you’re still right in the tournament,” Lowry said. “This is going to take me a couple hours to get over today, and yeah. I’m obviously pretty good now, but I have a job to do (Sunday) and a similar chance to win this tournament.”
Rose (73) made 11 straight pars at one point, while Schauffele (69) is in contention again after winning his first major at the PGA Championship in May. Major winners Adam Scott of Australia (66) and Justin Thomas (67) climbed to even par, tied with Englishman Matthew Jordan (71).
Lawrence, a 27-year-old DP World Tour player, was tapped to play with Horschel in Sunday’s final pairing, something he wouldn’t have seen coming after completing his round about four hours before Horschel.
“Obviously I had the perfect conditions on the front nine, and just took full advantage of it,” said Lawrence, who birdied six of his first eight holes.
Si Woo Kim of South Korea is in a tie for 40th at 5 over following a 71, but he’ll hold an Open Championship distinction after Saturday. Kim made the longest hole-in-one in Open history at the 238-yard par-3 17th hole.