NORTH BERWICK, Scotland — The leaderboard is stacked heading into the final round of the Genesis Scottish Open. Next week’s 152nd British Open should be so lucky as to have the quality of the contenders heading into what is setting up to be dramatic conclusion to the PGA Tour/DP World Tour co-sanctioned event at The Renaissance Club.
Ludvig Aberg holds a two-stroke lead over Scotland’s own Robert MacIntyre, who will be attempting to be the first native son to win on home soil in 25 years. MacIntyre posted the low score of the day, a 7-under 63, one better than Australian Adam Scott, who is alone in third, three off the pace. Collin Morikawa, Sahith Theegala, Sungjae Im and Antoine Rozner are bunched — and dangerous — at 13 under. Also lurking: defending champion Rory McIlroy, who is five back.
Saturday was supposed to be the windiest day of the week but the wind decided to go on holiday. A light rain softened greens on a gloomy, gray day and presented ideal conditions for scoring. These guys are good and so several players took advantage. Expect par to take another beating on Sunday.
Scottish Open: Sunday tee times | Photos
Here are five things to know from the third round of the 2024 Genesis Scottish Open:
Ludvig extends lead
Ludvig Aberg of Sweden lines up a putt on the 13th green during day three of the Genesis Scottish Open at The Renaissance Club on July 13, 2024 in North Berwick, Scotland. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)
Ludvig Aberg didn’t let back-to-back bogeys bother him. He didn’t let falling two strokes behind the lead slow him either. He birdied two of the last three holes to shoot 5-under 65 and double his one-stroke overnight lead to two after 54 holes as he seeks his second titles on both the DP World Tour and PGA Tour.
“Not the most stress-free golf but it was again a good score,” Aberg said. “I’m pleased with the way I hung in there and finished it out.”
Aberg carded four birdies in his first 10 holes but then he dropped shots at Nos. 11 and 12 and his lead was gone. But he bounced back with a 24-foot birdie putt at No. 13 and a clutch 8-foot par save at No. 15 after getting out of position off the tee. Aberg added birdies at 16 and 17 for 65 to follow a pair of 64s and lift him to a 54-hole total of 17-under 193.
“I saw some really good scores early on,” he said. “It makes you hungry and it makes you stay on the front foot and be aggressive, and felt like I did that well today.”
Great Scot
Robert MacIntyre of Scotland tees off on the 18th hole during day three of the Genesis Scottish Open at The Renaissance Club on July 13, 2024 in North Berwick, Scotland. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
The cheers grew with each birdie Robert MacIntyre made on Saturday. He tallied seven in all, plus an eagle at the par-4 fifth when he drove the green and sank a 43-foot putt.
“I played absolutely brilliantly,” he said of his 63, which included two bogeys. “Tee-to-green was solid again. Rolled the putter beautifully.”
MacIntyre finished second a year ago at The Renaissance Club and he will enter the final round trailing only Aberg by two. Colin Montgomerie in 1999 is the only player from Scotland to win the Genesis Scottish Open in the 41 times it has been played since first being introduced on the DP World Tour in 1972.
“I’ve not been shy in saying it: The Scottish Open is the one I want,” said MacIntyre, who picked up his maiden PGA Tour title last month at another national championship at the RBC Canadian Open. “I said it from the start, I just want to be in with a chance going into Sunday and I’ve given myself that chance.”
Expect MacIntyre to receive a hero’s welcome at every tee and green but the biggest challenge will be to control his own nerves.
“I can only control me and I’ve controlled myself very well so far,” he said. “I have 18 holes to control myself even more.”
The other Scott
Adam Scott of Australia reacts on the 16th green during day three of the Genesis Scottish Open at The Renaissance Club on July 13, 2024 in North Berwick, Scotland. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Adam Scott enjoyed playing alongside Robert MacIntyre, but there was no confusion over which of the two players the fans were cheering for.
“I was sure which Scott they were cheering for, it wasn’t me,” he said with a smile. “It was fun playing with Bob today, he’s the hometown hero and he should be. He played great and I was hanging on to his coattails. I feel like I’m close and nothing great has happened. Just a little better this week tee to green.”
Scott ranked first in Strokes Gained: Tee to Green on Saturday, overcoming a balky putter to make four birdies in the first six holes and shoot 64.
“I played the best of all three days today. The swing felt really tight. Ball coming out on line where I was looking. Nice way to play golf,” he said. “Now I’m getting picky and wish I had one or two better, but I’m very happy with 64.”
Scott takes his best position through 54 holes on the Tour since the 2020 Genesis Invitational, which also happens to be his most recent of 16 victories on Tour. That was more than four years ago. Scott entered the week at No. 71 in the FedEx Cup standings and in danger of missing the playoffs for a second straight year.
McIlroy lurking in title defense
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland reacts g1during day three of the Genesis Scottish Open at The Renaissance Club on July 13, 2024 in North Berwick, Scotland. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Rory McIlroy raced out of the gate and was 4 under through 10 holes but then the birdies dried up. A bogey at the last and he settled for 67 and trails the leader by five strokes.
“Kept hitting good shots, especially the last few holes, he said. “Missed, I think I had three 8-footers on 15, 16, 17 for birdie that I didn’t convert, and you know, bogey on the last.”
McIlroy’s driver has been a weapon this week but his putter let him down on Saturday. This could be a good setup for McIlroy, who has come from behind to win 14 times on the Tour since 2006, more than any other player.
“It’s another opportunity to go out there and try to win a very prestigious tournament that’s got a lot of history,” McIlroy said.
Three British Open berths on the line on Sunday
Antoine Rozner of France plays his second shot on the 13th hole during day three of the Genesis Scottish Open at The Renaissance Club on July 13, 2024 in North Berwick, Scotland. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)
It’s the tournament within the tournament this week at the Genesis Scottish Open: the leading three players not already exempt and who make the cut here earn a place in the 152nd British Open at Royal Troon.
Heading into the final round, France’s Antoine Rozner (T-4, -13), South African Erik van Rooyen (T-8, -12) and Germany’ Maximilian Kieffer (T-11, -10), Australian Cam Davis (T-11, -10), and France’s Ugo Coussaud (T-11, -10) are poised to book a place a couple hours down the road at the final men’s major of the year. A tie will be broken by the highest-ranked player in the OWGR.
The Genesis Scottish Open is the final event in the Open Qualifying Series.
