Tee times for the third round of The Open have been announced, with Rory McIlroy and Viktor Hovland leading the way off at 10:22 BST. The pair are tied for the lead on eight under par, with a host of players within touching distance. Jon Rahm is one shot behind in third, while Tiger Woods and Scottie Scheffler are a further shot back in a tie for fourth. The third round promises to be a fascinating one, with plenty of drama and excitement expected.
Tee Times and Pairings Set for Third Round
The tee times and pairings for the third round of The Open have been announced, with the first group set to tee off at 6:45am. Here is a look at the key pairings for Saturday’s action:
- Rory McIlroy and Jon Rahm: The world’s top two players will tee off together at 8:35am, in what is sure to be one of the most highly anticipated pairings of the day.
- Shane Lowry and Louis Oosthuizen: The reigning Champion Golfer of the Year and the 2021 runner-up will tee off at 9:05am, as they look to keep their title hopes alive.
- Viktor Hovland and Matt Fitzpatrick: Two of the hottest players on the PGA Tour will tee off at 9:25am, as they both seek to make a run at the Claret Jug.
- Cameron Smith and Dustin Johnson: The two former major champions will tee off at 10:30am, as they look to make a move up the leaderboard.
- Collin Morikawa and Scottie Scheffler: The two American stars will tee off at 1:25pm, as they look to join the mix of contenders.
The third round of The Open is sure to be full of drama and excitement, as the field narrows and the chase for the Claret Jug intensifies.
Tee Times for Third Round
| Hole | Group 1 | Group 2 | Group 3 | Group 4 | Group 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6:45am | 7:30am | 8:00am | 8:35am | 9:05am |
| 2 | 6:56am | 7:41am | 8:00am | 8:46am | 9:16am |
| 3 | 7:07am | 7:52am | 8:21am | 8:57am | 9:27am |
| 4 | 7:18am | 8:03am | 8:32am | 9:08am | 9:38am |
| 5 | 7:29am | 8:14am | 8:43am | 9:19am | 9:49am |
| 6 | 7:40am | 8:25am | 8:54am | 9:30am | 10:00am |
| 7 | 7:51am | 8:36am | 9:05am | 9:41am | 10:11am |
| 8 | 8:02am | 8:47am | 9:16am | 9:52am | 10:22am |
| 9 | 8:13am | 8:58am | 9:27am | 10:03am | 10:33am |
| 10 | 8:24am | 9:09am | 9:38am | 10:14am | 10:44am |
| 11 | 8:35am | 9:20am | 9:49am | 10:25am | 10:55am |
| 12 | 8:46am | 9:31am | 10:00am | 10:36am | 11:06am |
| 13 | 8:57am | 9:42am | 10:11am | 10:47am | 11:17am |
| 14 | 9:08am | 9:53am | 10:22am | 10:58am | 11:28am |
| 15 | 9:19am | 10:04am | 10:33am | 11:09am | 11:39am |
| 16 | 9:30am | 10:15am | 10:44am | 11:20am | 11:50am |
| 17 | 9:41am | 10:26am | 10:55am | 11:31am | 12:01pm |
| 18 | 9:52am | 10:37am | 11:06am | 11:42am | 12:12pm |
Rory McIlroy in Contention at Royal St. Georges
Rory McIlroy remains in contention at The Open after a solid second round at Royal St. Georges. The Northern Irishman shot a 4-under-par 66 to move to 6-under for the tournament, just 2 shots behind leaders Louis Oosthuizen and Collin Morikawa.
McIlroy got off to a fast start with birdies on the 2nd and 3rd holes. He then made a bogey on the 6th hole but bounced back with birdies on the 7th and 8th holes. He made the turn at 3-under-par 33.
On the back nine, McIlroy made a birdie on the 10th hole but gave the stroke back with a bogey on the 11th hole. He then made a birdie on the 14th hole and parred the last 4 holes to shoot a 3-under-par 33 on the back nine.
McIlroy is now tied for 3rd place with 4 other players, including Jon Rahm and Brooks Koepka. He will tee off in the third round at 1:52 p.m. BST alongside Oosthuizen and Morikawa.
The third round of The Open is sure to be exciting, with many of the world’s best golfers in contention. McIlroy will be looking to make a strong push on moving day and put himself in position to win his first Open Championship since 2014.
McIlroy’s Round 2 Scorecard
| Hole | Score |
|---|---|
| 1 | Par |
| 2 | Birdie |
| 3 | Birdie |
| 4 | Par |
| 5 | Par |
| 6 | Bogey |
| 7 | Birdie |
| 8 | Birdie |
| 9 | Par |
| 10 | Birdie |
| 11 | Bogey |
| 12 | Par |
| 13 | Par |
| 14 | Birdie |
| 15 | Par |
| 16 | Par |
| 17 | Par |
| 18 | Par |
Total: 66 (-4)
Breakdown of Key Groups to Watch
The third round of The Open is set to tee off early Friday morning, with several key groups to watch as the tournament reaches its climax. Here’s a breakdown of some of the most intriguing pairings:
Group 1 (10:29 AM)
- Rory McIlroy
- Jon Rahm
- Justin Thomas
All eyes will be on this star-studded group, featuring three of the game’s top players. McIlroy is seeking his fifth major title, while Rahm and Thomas are both vying for their second.
Group 2 (10:40 AM)
- Cameron Smith
- Matt Fitzpatrick
- Scottie Scheffler
Another formidable group, this one includes last year’s runner-up, Smith, and rising star Fitzpatrick, who won the 2022 U.S. Open. Scheffler is a former world No. 1 looking to add another major to his resume.
Group 3 (11:08 AM)
- Collin Morikawa
- Xander Schauffele
- Patrick Cantlay
This group of American contenders have all won majors in their careers, with Morikawa claiming two and Schauffele and Cantlay taking one each. They’ll be looking to make a move up the leaderboard on Friday.
Group 4 (11:19 AM)
- Shane Lowry
- Viktor Hovland
- Tommy Fleetwood
This group features a mix of experience and rising stars. Lowry won The Open in 2019, while Hovland and Fleetwood are both seeking their first major titles.
Group 5 (11:28 AM)
- Will Zalatoris
- Billy Horschel
- Talor Gooch
A group of dark horses to keep an eye on, Zalatoris is a rising star who has finished in the top 10 in his last three majors. Horschel is a former FedEx Cup champion, while Gooch is coming off an impressive performance at Wimbledon.
Predicting the Final Two Rounds
As the third round of The Open gets underway, the field has been whittled down to a select group of contenders. With just two rounds remaining, the tension is palpable as players vie for the Claret Jug. Here is a look at some of the key matchups and predictions for the final stretch:
-
Rory McIlroy vs. Jon Rahm: The two highest-ranked players in the world, McIlroy and Rahm have been in blistering form this week. McIlroy has a three-stroke lead heading into Round 3, but Rahm is within striking distance and has a proven ability to make birdies in bunches. This duel is likely to go down to the wire.
-
Dustin Johnson vs. Collin Morikawa: After a slow start, Johnson has surged into contention with two impressive rounds. He is now tied for third, just four strokes off the lead. Morikawa, the defending champion, has struggled somewhat but remains a threat. This matchup could be crucial in determining the outcome.
-
Cameron Smith vs. Viktor Hovland: Smith and Hovland are two of the hottest players on tour right now. They have both been making birdies with ease and are within striking distance of the leaders. If either player can continue their current form, they could be a force to be reckoned with in the final rounds.
Key Groups to Watch
| Group | Players | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Group 45 | Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm, Justin Thomas | 10:30 AM BST |
| Group 50 | Dustin Johnson, Collin Morikawa, Scottie Scheffler | 11:30 AM BST |
| Group 57 | Cameron Smith, Viktor Hovland, Will Zalatoris | 1:20 PM BST |
With so much talent in contention, the final two rounds of The Open promise to be nothing short of thrilling. Stay tuned as the drama unfolds and the next champion is crowned.
This concludes our coverage of the tee times for the third round of The Open. As the tournament progresses, we will continue to provide updates on the leaderboard, player performances, and any notable incidents. Stay tuned for comprehensive reporting on the remaining rounds and the eventual winner of the coveted Claret Jug.
