Scottie Scheffler put one hand on the Claret Jug on day three at the 153rd Open Championship at Royal Portrush.
Scheffler, 29, held a narrow one-shot lead starting the third round and he then strengthened it to four shots courtesy of a flawless third-round 67.
The World No.1 is going in search of his first Claret Jug.
Should he win The Open on Sunday then he will be just one leg away from completing the career grand slam.
Scheffler has two Masters titles and a PGA victory to his name.
China's Haotong Li has emerged as Scheffler's biggest threat on 10-under par.
Matt Fitzpatrick, who was playing alongside Scheffler, is a further shot back on 9-under par.
Home favourite Rory McIlroy holed a couple of bombs during a brilliant round of 66.
McIlroy told Sky Sports Golf after the round that it was "one of the coolest moments I've ever had on a golf course."
The Northern Irishman has hauled himself up to 8-under par, which is six shots off the pace heading into Sunday.
"Scottie Scheffler is inevitable, even when he doesn't have his best, he has become a complete player, so good around the greens and has improved so much with the putter," said McIlroy.
"It's going to be tough to catch him if he keeps playing the way he does. But if I can get off to a similar start to what I did today, get the crowd going and hopefully he feels that a couple of groups behind me then you never know, but I need to play another good round of golf and see what happens."
Other players in the hunt for The Open include last week's Scottish Open champion Chris Gotterup, Harris English, Tyrrell Hatton and defending champion Xander Schauffele, who matched McIlroy's round of 66.
Here's how we stand heading into Sunday:
Scottie Scheffler | -14 | 67 |
Haotong Li | -10 | 69 |
Matt Fitzpatrick | -9 | 71 |
Rory McIlroy | -8 | 66 |
Chris Gotterup | -8 | 68 |
Harris English | -8 | 68 |
Tyrrell Hatton | -8 | 68 |
Xander Schauffele | -7 | 66 |
Scroll down to see how the third round of The Open played out at Portrush...
Scheffler -13, Fitzpatrick -11 (9)
Scheffler misses a good birdie look at the 9th.
His playing partner is in some trouble, though, faced with six feet to save his par after he missed the green left.
Fitzpatrick is up to the task...
English -6, MacIntyre -7 (11)
Seriously loud cheers for Bob over at the 11th, who holes curling birdie putt.
English, meanwhile, drops further back with a bogey.
McIlroy -7 (14*)
Rory McIlroy finds the right rough at the 14th with his tee shot.
It's a tough green to hit from the fairway, even tougher from McIlroy's position.
McIlroy manages to find the putting surface, but lets out a groan as he's not very close at all.
Scheffler -13, Fitzpatrick -11 (9*)
Let's take a brief break from Rory McIlroy to see what Scottie Scheffler can do at the 8th.
Another superb iron shot sets up 16 feet for birdie.
It drops!
The lead is two.
Fitzpatrick makes a par.
We now have video of McIlroy's 56-foot eagle putt.
Was this the greatest moment of the championship so far?
Absolutely.
It's ridiculous. It's Rory.
— The Open (@TheOpen) July 19, 2025
Royal Portrush will remember this one. pic.twitter.com/VKSnyvBsse
McIlroy -7 (13*)
Rory McIlroy takes dead aim at the par-3 13th.
He twirls his club. And you can see why.
Another great chance.
McIlroy is feeling it now!
McIlroy -7 (12)
Oh. My. Word.
What have you just done, Rory McIlroy?
The eagle putt drops!
That roar was heard in the media centre...
Royal Portrush has erupted!
Shane Lowry carded a 74 today and is well down the leaderboard in a share of 63rd spot.
Last night, he was hit with a two-stroke penalty after the R&A judged he caused his golf ball to move whilst playing a practice stroke on the 11th hole.
Lowry's day got worse, as there is a sickness bug going round their family.
"I haven't eaten today yet," Lowry told reporters in the mixed zone.
"I tried to get a protein drink down me after eight holes, and I felt like throwing up all over the place.
" Yeah, it's been a tough day, but I'm not going to make excuses. I played poorly today and obviously had a bad finish."
Rory McIlroy has reached the par-5 12th.
After a monster drive, McIlroy takes dead aim.
It's long. It's left. It's still on the green, though!
Eagle 'chance' upcoming for McIlroy.
Scheffler -12, Fitzpatrick -11 (7)
Magnificent from the three-time major winner, who finds the eagle at the 7th.
Can Fitzpatrick respond? He does. Birdie.
The gap is just one.
Here's Hatton's hole out from the 7th...
Listen to that noise.
— The Open (@TheOpen) July 19, 2025
Tyrell Hatton holes out from 139 yards. pic.twitter.com/y8Or0KGGVt
McIlroy -5 (12*)
Rory McIlroy pays the price for a poor tee shot.
He chips to about 20 feet and for once today doesn't threaten the cup.
Fairway found at the 12th, though...
Scheffler -10, Fitzpatrick -10 (7*)
Gorgeous, towering iron from Scottie Scheffler at the par-5 7th.
He's been flat to this point, but the World No.1 could make a nice eagle three to move two clear.
Looks like he'll have about 12-15 feet for the big bird.
Fitzpatrick is in the hollow at the front of the green.
McIlroy -6 (10*)
Following Rory McIlroy's big miss at the 10th, the Northern Irishman tries to hit a gap wedge towards the green with his second.
But that's only half of the story.
McIlroy managed to unearth a members' golf ball in his follow through.
Luckily for McIlroy, that's not a penalty.
His actual golf ball comes up short of the green and he'll have work to do to make his par.
Watch it. Watch it again. pic.twitter.com/I48KVCk80b
— The Open (@TheOpen) July 19, 2025
Hatton -8, R Hojgaard -5 (8)
Tyrrell Hatton two-putts from distance at the 8th to keep this good round going.
Scheffler -10, Fitzpatrick -10 (6)
Two more birdie chances go begging for our co-leaders.
Gotterup -7 (10*)
By no means is last week's Scottish Open winner out of this.
Gotterup makes the turn in 2-under and is nicely positioned on the leaderboard.
McIlroy -6 (11*)
Rory McIlroy scares the cup again with his latest birdie putt but once again watches his golf ball slide by the cup.
What can he do on the 11th tee box?
That is wild!
FORE. RIGHT.
It's in the thick stuff, but it looks like two spectators have already found it.
Position | Player Name | Score | Thru |
1 | Scottie Scheffler | -10 | 5 |
1 | Matthew Fitzpatrick | -10 | 5 |
3 | Haotong Li | -9 | 6 |
4 | Tyrrell Hatton | -8 | 7 |
5 | Chris Gotterup | -7 | 8 |
5 | Robert MacIntyre | -7 | 7 |
5 | Harris English | -7 | 7 |
8 | Russell Henley | -6 | F |
8 | Xander Schauffele | -6 | 14 |
8 | Rory McIlroy | -6 | 10 |
8 | Tony Finau | -6 | 8 |
8 | Brian Harman | -6 | 6 |
S. Schefler -10, M. Fitzpatrick -10 (5)
Neither player can take advantage at the 5th.
Scheffler makes his fifth par in a row.
T. Hatton -8 (7)
Tyrrell Hatton is not happy.
He tells his caddie he fatted his approach at the par-3 7th.
But it's gone in the hole!
Cue scenes.
That is the fourth eagle of the day on this hole.
English -7, MacIntyre -7 (7)
Take a bow, Bob.
The Scot becomes the latest player to record an eagle at the 7th.
A beautiful second sets up an opportunity for the big bird from six feet.
No mistake.
Rory McIlroy finds another fairway at the 10th with a 3-wood off the tee.
The atmosphere out here really is electric.
"Very tasty that," opines Laura Davies on Sky Sports.
H. Li -9 (6*)
Haotong Li is faced with five feet for par on the 5th, but he's up to the task and he remains one back.
He asks for his ball to 'be right' with his tee shot at the 6th, but he misses the green at the par-3 and will do well to save par.
Rose -4 (11)
Justin Rose's rollercoaster of a third round continues at the 11th.
A second shank of the day puts the Englishman out of position and he does well to save a bogey.
