Can anybody stop Scottie Scheffler? With a four-shot lead heading into the closing round of the 153rd Open, the chasing pack are facing one of the biggest reeling in jobs since Captain Ahab went after Moby Dick.
As the thousands streamed out of the golf last night, they were confronted by hectic scenes as a well-publicised loyalist parade brought the streets of Portrush to a complete standstill.
Perhaps the Sons of Ulster will be employed to halt Scheffler in his tracks too?
Good luck. This was classic Scheffler. Composed, controlled and clinical. His bogey-free four-under 67 for a 14-under total gave him a commanding advantage over Haotong Li as the world No 1 looks to add a Claret Jug to the two Masters green jackets and a US PGA title that he already has in his shimmering collection.
“Anytime you can keep a clean card in a major championship, you're going to be having a pretty good day,” said Scheffler.
When he did deviate off the straight and narrow, his nerveless salvage operations to save par, particularly on the 11th and 14th, must have knocked the stuffing out of those trying to keep clinging to his coattails.
“The card could looks stress-free, but those two par saves were key,” he added of the significance of those moments.
Earlier, his cracking approach into the long seventh spawned an eagle as the overnight leader fortified his position of authority at the summit.
Scheffler has closed out victory the last 10 times he has held the outright lead after 54-holes.
“A lot of it is staying patient,” he said. “I know what I need to do tomorrow and it is a matter of going out and doing it. But I’m not thinking about winning The Open when I go to sleep tonight.”
This was a cracking day of major championship golf. When home hero Rory McIlroy curled in a raking birdie putt on the very first hole, the roars from the masses looking on could’ve cracked the basalt columns of the Giant’s Causeway.
Carried along on a tidal wave of passionate support, the reigning Masters champion certainly gave them plenty to get excited about as he posted a lively 66 to finish on eight-under and trail by six.
His baffling incident on the 11th, meanwhile, had McIlroy scratching his head like Stan Laurel trying to work out a yardage.
Digging a wayward drive out of the rough, McIlroy’s gouge also unearthed an old ball that had been buried under his own and it flew out too.
It was probably a lost relic from the Portrush media day when the golf writers were allowed to thrash away on the links.
“That is the most weird, ridiculous thing I've ever seen,” smiled McIlroy of this two-ball trick during a typically eventful round which also featured a mighty eagle putt of over 50-feet on the 12th.
The world No 2 was joined in a share of fourth by Harris English, Tyrrell Hatton and last week’s Scottish Open champion, Chris Gotterup. Ahead of them is Matthew Fitzpatrick on nine-under with Li the closest to Scheffler on 10-under.
Li, who is coached by Jamie Gough, the brother of former Rangers and Scotland defender Richard, was third in The Open back in 2017 at Birkdale as he rose to global prominence.
He has endured some trying years since then, however. Injuries and a bout of the yips saw him hit rock bottom.
“Nothing to lose,” said the 29-year-old after a 69 kept him in the hunt to become the first Asian winner of The Open. “Two years ago, swing yips, I couldn't even pull the trigger. This is a massive step for me. It’s a miracle.”
It would be quite the miracle if he can hunt down the dominant Scheffler. Fitzpatrick, who signed for a 71, is well aware of the size of the task facing the rest.
“Let's be realistic,” said the Sheffield man. “He's five ahead. It's not easy. But if you get off to a good start, then you can put a bit of pressure on early doors and hope for the best really”.
As the sun shone down on Portrush, the huge galleries certainly got their money’s worth on an absorbing day across the board.
Justin Rose’s 68 was such a wild ride, it could’ve been played out on a safari.
The Englishman packed eight birdies, three bogeys and two full-blown shanks into a lively affair. When he holed a huge putt across the 18th green, he opened his arms and looked to the heavens in gasping delight. It was one of those days.
His compatriot Lee Westwood, meanwhile, stumbled out in 40 then came bounding home in just 29 blows to finish alongside Rose on five-under.
It was time for everybody to have a breather. The chasing pack will need all their energy to catch Scheffler.
