The Open: Adam Scott, 5 gamers take full benefit of Shifting Day

Shifting Day at The Open Championship noticed how simple and tough Royal Troon can play.

The gamers who performed within the morning took benefit of the dearth of situations, whereas the afternoon noticed a very totally different golf course come to life.

Shane Lowry struggled down the stretch and fell to ninth on the leaderboard after signing for a 6-over 77. He led by three forward of Saturday’s spherical. Daniel Brown continues to be in rivalry. World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler and the reigning PGA Championship winner Xander Schauffele sit in good positions to win their second main.

Nonetheless, which gamers took essentially the most benefit of Shifting Day?

Let’s take a look at the 5 gamers who will assist make Championship Sunday extra fascinating due to their spectacular rounds on Saturday.

5 Gamers that took benefit of Shifting Day on the Open

Justin Thomas

Picture by Warren Little/Getty Photos

Justin Thomas made an entire 180-degree change from Friday to Saturday. He went out in 45 in Spherical 2. Nonetheless, in Spherical 3, the previous Alabama Crimson Tide participant shot a 31 on the entrance 9.

He obtained to 6-under on the day earlier than dropping photographs at 13 and 15, however he signed for a 4-under 67, a 10-stroke distinction in lower than 24 hours. That rating pushed him 38 spots up the leaderboard, and he now sits 4 photographs off the chief.

Thomas performed properly sufficient to be one in every of 12 individuals at par or higher by way of three rounds of play.

Sam Burns

Picture by Zac Goodwin/PA Photos through Getty Photos

Sam Burns is one other participant that discovered some rhythm on Saturday at Royal Troon. He jumped 36 locations up the leaderboard after he signed for a 6-under 65 to take a seat at 3-under total.

The previous LSU Tiger is one stroke off the lead and in rivalry. He opened the day with a bogey on the primary, however from there, he made 5 birdies in his subsequent eight holes. Burns dropped one other shot at 10, however made back-to-back birdies at 11 and 12. His eighth birdie of the day got here on the par-5 sixteenth, which put him in a chief place forward of the ultimate 18.

Adam Scott

Picture by Luke Walker/R&A/R&A through Getty Photos

Adam Scott moved a mind-blowing 50 spots up the scoreboard on Saturday after he shot a 5-under 67. He sits at even par forward of the ultimate spherical, placing him within the hunt.

Scott completed second final week to Robert MacIntyre on the Genesis Scottish Open. Can he discover a method to shut the deal this week? The 44-year-old took benefit of his early tee time and made essentially the most of it.

He made six birdies and one bogey on the day at 15. If he can come into the ultimate spherical with this momentum, Scott may shock the world and win his second main championship.

Thriston Lawrence

Picture by Warren Little/Getty Photos

Thriston Lawrence went low Saturday at The Open Championship. He shot a 5-under 65 and moved up the leaderboard by 34 spots.

Lawrence went out in 30 strokes, making six birdies within the first eight holes. He picked up his seventh birdie on the eleventh earlier than his lone hiccup got here at 13 when he made a bogey on the par-4 thirteenth.

His 65 helped get the South African into the ultimate group alongside Billy Horschel, however will it’s sufficient to win his first main?

Billy Horschel

Picture by Zac Goodwin/PA Photos through Getty Photos

Billy Horschel is the 54-hole chief on the Open. He could lead, however the former Florida Gator overcame the situations and battled laborious to keep away from too many pricey errors.

Horschel moved up the leaderboard for the second straight day, however his focus landed him within the driver’s seat.

He signed for a 2-under 69, an excellent rating for the situations they performed in on Saturday. His phenomenal brief recreation helped him transfer into the lead and preserve it.

Horschel went 8-of-8 from the difficult pot bunkers. He made numerous par saves that saved him proper the place he wanted to be. Whereas he did make bogeys on the eleventh and 18th holes, it was not detrimental to his day as a result of everybody dropped a shot in some unspecified time in the future.

He tied for eighth on the PGA Championship earlier this yr and tied for forty first on the U.S. Open, however now he has the chance to do one thing particular. If he wins, it’s going to change his profession perpetually and add to his legacy.