RORY MCILROY and Viktor Hovland are battling it out to win the 2022 Open Championship title.
The pair have a four-shot lead at -16 over their nearest contenders, after Cameron Young and Cameron Smith both finished the third round on -12.
However Rory Mcllroy's (-16) incredible chip shot out of the bunker stole the show and pushed him to T1 with Hovland
Tee times:
- 2.50pm: Viktor Hovland, Rory McIlroy (-16)
- 2.40: Cameron Young, Cameron Smith (-12)
- 2.30: Si Woo Kim, Scottie Scheffler (-11)
- 2.20: Dustin Johnson (-10), Tommy Fleetwood (-9)
- 2.10: Matt Fitzpatrick, Adam Scott (-9)
- 2.00: Jordan Spieth, Patrick Cantlay (-8)
- 1.45: Kevin Kisner, Thomas Pieters (-7)
- 1.35: Brian Harman, Shane Lowry (-7)
- 1.25: Tyrell Hatton (-7), Trey Mullinax (-6)
- 1.15: Francesco Molinari (-6), Bryson DeChambeau (-6)
- 1.05: Henley Russell, Dylan Frittelli (-6)
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- Kieran Davies
It all comes down to this
This is the finale moment of The Open 2022….
- Kieran Davies
Rory and Viktor head to the tee
The moment fans have been waiting for all day is almost upon us.
Leaders Rory McIlroy and Viktor Hovland head to the tee.
This is what the final day of The Open is all about with all the movers and shakers out on the course.
- Kieran Davies
The Open 2022 Leaderboard
With only six players to tee off this afternoon we should be seeing a lot more movement on the leaderboard from this point forward.
- Viktor Hovland -16 (2.50pm)
- Rory McIlroy -16 (2.50pm)
- Cameron Young -12 (2.40pm)
- Cam Smith -12 (2.40pm)
- Sadom Kaewkanjana -11 (F)
- Abraham Ancer -11 (F)
- Si Woo Kim -11 (2.30pm)
- Scottie Scheffler -11 (2.30pm)
- Kieran Davies
Molinari returning to form
Francesco Molinari has seen a run of good form over the four days of The Open at St Andrews.
The self-confessed West Ham fan (due to Gianfranco Zola's stint at managing the club) is currently 8 under par.
Now considered the best Italian golfer of all time, he has passed Constantino Rocca's total of five European tour wins.
Molinari is the only European in history to win all five matches in a single Ryder Cup and secured the half-point to secure the 2012 Ryder Cup, nicknamed 'The Miracle at Medinah', beating Tiger Woods in the process.
Credit: Reuters - Kieran Davies
Belgian offering treats to spectators
There is something weirdly satisfying about seeing a monster putt drained.
The slow approach to the hole, the 'will it, wont it' thoughts, then just seeing the ball disappear from sight with the crowds cheering.
Even better when it brings an eagle in the process.
- Kieran Davies
Jordan looking to turn on the style
With Patrick Cantlay and Jordan Spieth teeing off any moment now, the former world number one gives his thoughts on the old course at St Andrews:
This is unlike any other tournament really, The Open at St Andrews. It certainly hasn't disappointed being on the grounds this week. The course is incredibly firm. The greens are flawless, and the setting as you come in these closing holes is even more grand than it was seven years ago. So very exciting.
Jordan SpiethUSA
- Kieran Davies
Forever playing the waiting game
A lot of players have complained over the four days about how long the rounds have been taking at St Andrews.
Whether it be at the tee or on the greens, with only four greens not being shared on this course, it is always going to be the way.
Can you guess who this is waiting patiently just from this camera angle?
Credit: PA - Kieran Davies
The Open 2022 Leaderboard
With just under an hour before the final pairing tee-off, the only real mover on the leaderboard still is Sadom Kaewkanjana, now at 10 under par for the tournament.
- Viktor Hovland -16 (2.50pm)
- Rory McIlroy -16 (2.50pm)
- Cameron Young -12 (2.40pm)
- Cam Smith -12 (2.40pm)
- Si Woo Kim -11 (2.30pm)
- Scottie Scheffler -11 (2.30pm)
- Sadom Kaewkanjana -10 (14)
- Tommy Fleetwood -9 (2.20pm)
- Matt Fitzpatrick -9 (2.10pm)
- Adam Scott -9 (2.10pm)
Thomas struggling to find consistency
Justin Thomas has been struggling to find a consistent game here at St Andrews as his links record doesn't look to get any better.
Having never registered a top-ten finish in five appearances at The Open it may be too much of an ask today.
In glimpses, he does show us what a player he is.
- Kieran Davies
Fans waiting for big-hitters
One thing we have learned from today's play is that birdies seem to be flowing in the early rounds.
With golfers trying to put themselves towards the top of the leaderboard before they have to watch the final session from the clubhouse.
It could make for an intriguing final round for the leading pack with the lead changing hands many times throughout the afternoon.
- Kieran Davies
Chance to rest from the heat
The spectator village is starting to fill up a little offering fans a chance to watch everything that is going on, minus the long walk.
As the day moves on and space at the tees and greens following the leaders become sparse, we should see this fill up more.
Chance to rehydrate and fill up while enjoying the final round.
Credit: Reuters - Kieran Davies
Celli fires his way towards silver medal
Italian amateur Filippo Celli has made back-to-back birdies to make it to 4 under par.
He moves five shots clear of Aaron Jarvis in the battle for the silver medal.
Barclay Brown has slipped to 2 over par in his pursuit of the medal.
Credit: @TheOpen - Kieran Davies
The Open 2022 Leaderboard
While we are not seeing any movement in the top nine of the leaderboard, it is worth noting there is a trio of players who have now made 8 under par, moving ahead of Jordan Spieth.
Abraham Ancer, Xander Schauffele and Sadom Kaewkanjana are all pushing towards the top of the pile, with the latter having just moved on to 9 under par.
- Viktor Hovland -16 (2.50pm)
- Rory McIlroy -16 (2.50pm)
- Cameron Young -12 (2.40pm)
- Cam Smith -12 (2.40pm)
- Si Woo Kim -11 (2.30pm)
- Scottie Scheffler -11 (2.30pm)
- Dustin Johnson -10 (2.20pm)
- Sadom Kaewkanjana -9 (11)
- Tommy Fleetwood -9 (2.20pm)
- Matt Fitzpatrick -9 (2.10pm)
- Adam Scott -9 (2.10pm)
Form starting to show for American
Xander Schauffele came into The Open in fine form, coming off back-to-back wins on the PGA Tour, including the Scottish Open last weekend.
Schauffele has started his final round today showing he is in fine form.
Three birdies on the first three holes has taken him to 8 under par and in a position to trouble some of the front-runners on the leaderboard.
Fitzpatrick talks of St Andrews buzz
Teeing off this afternoon will be the US Open champion, Matt Fitzpatrick, who will start on 9 under par.
He was discussing what The Open means to him:
Before I won a major I would see the other guys doing press conferences and doing media, and was like 'that's what I want', now it is has happened it is like 'oh, it's quite a lot…'.
You have to manage your time differently and even better than before. You have more people wanting your time.
But I am enjoying it so far. I have to do whatever is right for me and my golf, so if I have to do less of this and make sure my golf is OK, then that is what I'll do.
- Kieran Davies
Personal bests way to improve game
While some golfers may not be able to trouble the likes of Rory McIlroy at the top of the leaderboard today, personal goals are integral if they ever hope to be challenging for the coveted claret jug in the future.
One such player is Sadom Kaewkanjana, with the Thai golfer already carding a birdie and eagle to take him to 7 under par.
Just approaching the ninth hole of his round, he has a big opportunity to place himself well in this championship.
- Kieran Davies
Burns ties low round for week
Sam Burns' 8 under par round today managed to equal the lowest score we have seen carded this week.
All the more impressive with the finish he made.
- Kieran Davies
Players to impact the leaderboard
With the leading golfers well into double figures before even starting their final round, it was a big ask of many of the early tee times to get themselves up there.
As we see the likes of Ian Poulter, Xander Schauffele and Jon Rahm now starting their rounds on 5 under par we could see some players push themselves up the leaderboard.
They will no doubt be targeting Jordan Spieth's score as something to aim for on the leaderboard.
- Kieran Davies
Records are there to be broken
In 2017, the record for the lowest score was broken on the old course at St Andrews.
The player who accomplished that, currently ranked 325 in the world, is Englishman Ross Fisher.
Fisher shot an 11 under par score of 61.
There are a lot of players going out there today who would give their right arm to card such a score today.
Credit: @DPWorldTour - Kieran Davies
Silver medal on amateurs' minds
Going into the final round, some of the amateur golfers who have done so well to make the cut for the final day will have one thing on their minds today.
The highest finishing amateur will receive the silver medal for their achievement.
While it did seem for a long time that Barclay Brown would have this sewn up, a round of 77 yesterday threw a real spanner in the works.
It seems that honour may well go to Filippo Celli who is leading the amateur pack currently on 3 under par.
Brown may still have something to say about that however.
Celli and his caddie embrace on the first tee before getting things underway.
Credit: Getty - Kieran Davies
Final round conundrum at The Open 2022
With the leaders, Viktor Hovland and Rory McIlroy, both sitting on 16 under par for the championship it does beg the big question coming into the final day's play.
How far is too far away to win it today?
64 is one of the lower rounds we have seen often through the four day's play so far but is anyone actually out of this before they even start their final round.
That would suggest that Jordan Spieth (-8) is the benchmark and it being very unlikely that anyone further back than the American will be able to pull off an unlikely win today.
- Kieran Davies
Burns' round is nothing short of 'excellent'
Sam Burns has led the way in the early stages here at St Andrews.
He shot a brilliant 64 even managing to put birdies in on the last for holes to take him to 6 under par for the championship.
What makes the card even more impressive is that it did not include one single drop shot in the entire 18 holes.
Something Sam can take away with him for future competitions.
- Kieran Davies
Cometh the hour, cometh the man
The final day of The Open 2022 and this is where it matters most.
Players have dreamt of winning this major, today they can make that dream a reality.
- Kieran Davies
The Open 2022 Leaderboard
There are no changes to the top as the early tee-off's get underway.
Americans Sam Burns, Cameron Tringale, Jason Kokrak and Justin Thomas are trying to change that with the foursome currently sitting on 5 under par.
- Viktor Hovland -16 (2.50pm)
- Rory McIlroy -16 (2.50pm)
- Cameron Young -12 (2.40pm)
- Cam Smith -12 (2.40pm)
- Si Woo Kim -11 (2.30pm)
- Scottie Scheffler -11 (2.30pm)
- Dustin Johnson -10 (2.20pm)
- Tommy Fleetwood -9 (2.20pm)
- Matt Fitzpatrick -9 (2.10pm)
- Adam Scott -9 (2.10pm)
Follow the leader(s)
There had been plenty of talk about Rory McIlroy feeling the heat — under severe pressure to end an eight-year wait for a Major title.
But you would not have believed it yesterday — not while McIlroy and Ryder Cup team-mate Viktor Hovland laughed and joked and fist-bumped their way around the Old Course at St Andrews, like a pair of pals enjoying a breezy round at the local municipal.
Until they got into bother at the ‘Road Hole’ 17th, neither had a single bogey.
There may be a little less bonhomie between the duo when they head out as joint leaders this afternoon, four shots ahead of the chasing pack, with the Claret Jug up for grabs.
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