Rory McIlroy maintains one-shot lead at Scottish Open

GLASGOW – Rory McIlroy shot a three-under 67 on Saturday to maintain a one-stroke lead after the third round at the Scottish Open in North Berwick.

The world No. 3, who sits at 13-under 197 for the tournament, recorded five birdies against two bogeys at The Renaissance Club to stay one stroke ahead of South Korea’s Tom Kim (67).

He said: “I played very well again, especially the first 11 holes. There were a couple of squirrelly shots in there when the wind got up, it started to get pretty gusty.

“I kept giving myself looks, I missed a couple of short ones, but overall still a great round of golf and I’m where I want to be going into tomorrow.”

The Northern Irishman, who began the third round with a one-shot advantage, began brightly with two birdies in his first three holes. He added more birdies on holes 7, 10 and 14 but dropped shots on the 12th and 15th holes.

He said: “It was a nice start, I hit a great drive down the first. My five-iron into the 10th was the best shot I hit all day.”

The four-time Major champion has 36 victories worldwide but has never won in Scotland, an unwanted statistic he hopes to change on Sunday while also giving himself the perfect tune-up for next week’s British Open.

He added: “I am excited. I’ve had plenty of opportunities to win in Scotland and haven’t got the job done. It’s a great opportunity and I’d love to. It’s the home of golf. I would be lovely to pick up a trophy.”

Kim was glad to be in the mix, adding: “I just had a lot of tough situations but obviously with the wind and everything, just got to trust and I did. Pretty fortunate to walk off with a bogey-free round.”

England’s Tommy Fleetwood collected eight birdies against one bogey for a stunning 63 to jump from 29th place into a tie for third on 199 with American Brian Harman (67).

American Eric Cole shot a 64 to join Ireland’s Shane Lowry (65), first-round leader An Byeong-hun (69), top-ranked Scottie Scheffler (67) and J.T. Poston (65) in a five-way tie at 200.

Meanwhile, Annie Park’s eight birdies included a sizzling string of four in a row on Friday, as the American seized a two-shot lead at the LPGA Dana Open in Sylvania, Ohio.

Park, whose lone Tour victory came at the ShopRite Classic back in 2018, matched her career-low round with an eight-under 63 at Highland Meadows, her 11-under total of 131 putting her two clear of a trio of players headed by newly crowned US Women’s Open champion Allisen Corpuz.

“I just had some really good shots out there,” Park said. “Recovered well from bad shots. Overall I played really well today.”

Corpuz, who claimed her first Major at Pebble Beach last Sunday, produced her second bogey-free round of the week, firing a 66. She was joined on 133 by overnight co-leaders Jaravee Boonchant of Thailand and Linn Grant of Sweden, who both shot 69.

“Really solid past two days,” Corpuz said, adding that any fatigue she was feeling in the wake of her triumphant Open campaign – and the travel delays that beset her afterwards – might actually be working in her favour.

“Honestly, the fatigue has kind of helped with the nerves a bit,” she said. “Going out there (I’m) just focusing on doing the same thing – try and hit good shots.”

She said her grouping with former world No. 1 Lydia Ko and two-time Major winner Minjee Lee (both 68) had been energising.

Eight players shared fifth on 134. South Korean Lee5 Jeong-eun entered that group with a 64 that featured an eagle, six birdies and one bogey, while former world No. 1 Ariya Jutanugarn shot a 69. AFP