Rory McIlroy just snagged an early birdie on the second hole of The Open’s final day, dropping a 20-footer to get to three under par. Sounds good, right? Well, he’s still a massive seven shots behind leader Sam Burns, and the course is playing like a nightmare.
McIlroy’s Uphill Battle Just Got Steeper
Our guy McIlroy had suggested Saturday evening that if he could get into double digits under par, he might actually stand a chance at contending. But getting there from seven shots back, sitting at just three under, on *this* final-round setup is going to take something truly legendary. He’s facing an absolute uphill battle for any shot at that Open title, even with that early spark.
Royal Birkdale: The R&A’s Toughest Challenge Yet
The R&A decided to make the quest for the Claret Jug the most demanding one yet, saving Royal Birkdale’s toughest setup for the final round. And man, did they deliver. After three record major record-equalling 62s on Friday and Saturday, they literally tucked every single flag: behind a bunker, perched over a ridge, or slammed right up against the fringe. Even the 241-yard par-three 15th, with its flag at the maximum distance from the edge, was still a sneaky nine yards in from the left bunker. This course is not messing around. It is a strategic war against the course, making McIlroy’s job even harder.
Momentum Killers All Over the Green
It’s not just Rory feeling the squeeze. Matthew Southgate, in the second group out, had a moment, threatening to tear up the links with three successive birdies. But he couldn’t maintain it, ending up level par for the tournament with a 66. Former Open champion Collin Morikawa also started strong with back-to-back birdies, getting to four under, only to bogey the very next hole. This course is designed to snuff out any momentum, showing just how hard it is out there for everyone trying to make a charge.
McIlroy has got to find something truly special to overcome both Sam Burns and Royal Birkdale’s absolute grind of a course. This final day is shaping up to be a brutal test, and every single shot matters for the Masters champion to even dream of hoisting that Claret Jug.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Leave a Reply