HOYLAKE, England (AP) — Rory McIlroy made up four shots from the turn in the final round of the British Open.
McIlroy started the day tied for 11th, nine shots behind Brian Harman, but had moved into a tie for second and within five shots of the lead after his first nine holes.
McIlroy made three consecutive birdies on the third, fourth and fifth holes at Royal Liverpool. He was at 6-under par, tied with Tommy Fleetwood, Sepp Straka, Jon Rahm and Cameron Young.
Harman was 1 over through his first four holes, having made a bogey on the par-4 second.
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WHAT TO KNOW
— Harman builds a 5-shot lead at the British Open
— Jon Rahm sets the Hoylake record with 63 to give himself a chance
— Younger brother of US Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick in the top 10
— Rory McIlroy lets chances slip away with poor putting
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HARMAN TEES OFF TO START FINAL ROUND
Brian Harman found the fairway off the tee as he began the final round of the British Open with a five-shot lead.
The American lefty started at 12-under par and is playing alongside Cameron Young, who found the left rough off the tee. He started at 7-under par.
Both are trying to win their first major.
Rory McIlroy moved into a tie for second with Young and Jon Rahm after making three birdies in a row early in his round at Royal Liverpool.
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MIXED EMOTIONS FOR LAMPRECHT
Christo Lamprecht led the British Open on Thursday. He won the silver medal as the low amateur on Sunday.
It was the stuff in between that frustrated the 22-year-old South African with a big game and a big future.
“It’s been a week with every bit of emotion felt,” the 6-foot-8 (2.03-meter) Lamprecht said after his 3-over 74 in the final round, “coming off a high on Thursday and just not having it the last three days.”
Lamprecht, a two-time All-American from Georgia Tech, was the only amateur to play the weekend at Royal Liverpool. He followed a 66 in the first round, which left him tied for the lead, with a 79 in the second round that saw him make the cut on the number.
He was first out on Sunday and will have to stick around all day to receive his medal. Then it’s back home before college starts in two weeks ahead of his final year before turning pro.
“I think there’s a lot of things to take away,” Lamprecht said, “but it’s nice to know that my good golf is good enough to compete with anyone in the world.”
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HARMAN LOOKS TO MAKE HISTORY
Brian Harman wants to make the right kind of history in the British Open.
The American lefty takes a five-shot lead into the final round at Royal Liverpool. No one has lost a lead that large in the Open — or any major — since Jean Van de Velde at Carnoustie in 1999. And even that required a triple bogey on the 72nd hole.
Cameron Young will be alongside in the final group on a cloudy, breezy day. The wind forecast was such that the R&A has already adjusted two pin positions on the fifth and 13th holes. The pins are not as deep as originally planned.
Also the tee on the par-3 17th has been moved up 8 yards to play at 132 yards.
In early action, Scottie Scheffler is 3 under for his day through seven holes to reach 1 over for the tournament. Bryson DeChambeau drove the 367-yard fourth hole and made a 25-foot eagle putt. He also has three bogeys in his round.
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