It is here, the final round of The 150th Open Championship at St Andrews! What a day of golf we have in store and we are going to keep you up to date every step of the way.
Rory McIlroy and Viktor Hovland started in the lead on 16-under-par after both European Ryder Cup teammates carded 66s on Saturday, but McIlroy took a two-shot lead into the back nine.
With just three holes remaining, Cameron Smith has a one shot lead after a run of five consecutive birdies at the start of the back nine. McIlroy is now the hunter.
McIlroy, looking for his second Claret Jug, holed out for an eagle on hole 10 in the third round, creating the highlight moment of the tournament so far. We are expecting more fireworks as the championship reaches its climax.
Leaderboard after day three:
Viktor Hovland -16
Rory McIlroy -16
Cameron Young -12
Cameron Smith -12
Si Woo Kim -11
Scottie Scheffler -11
Dustin Johnson -10
Tommy Fleetwood -9
Matthew Fitzpatrick -9
Adam Scott -9
What an unbelievable performance from Cameron Smith, a more-than worthy Champion Golfer of the Year!
Rory McIlroy fails to chip in on the 18th hole and that confirms that no one can catch the Aussie.
Smith carded a 64 to reach 20-under-par and he put on a putting clinic to make five consecutive birdies at the start of the back nine.
McIlroy cards a 70 to finish on 18-under in third place. Cameron Young is in second place on 19-under-par.
Cameron Smith makes an easy birdie on the 18th hole to all but seal his first major title!
He cards a 64 to post 20-under, so Rory needs an eagle on the final hole but he has hit it short of the green,
Also, what an effort from Cameron Young! He incredibly EAGLES the 18th hole to reach 19-under but once again, he will finish in second place.
It has been a monumental effort from Young who cards a 65, but now Smith waits for Rory to try and chip in for eagle on 18...
Unfortunately, it might not be Rory's day.
After a fantastic approach to the 17th hole, McIlroy can't convert the putt of about 15 feet.
But now, Smith has a very short birdie putt on 18 so it could be a maiden major title for the Aussie...
Absolutely nerveless from Smith. Incredible golf.
From in front of the Road Hole bunker, the Aussie putts his ball around the sand to about 12 feet and he drains another beauty for par.
That is the mark of an Open champion. McIlroy is still one behind with two holes left, the 18th is only in front of Smith.
Wow. Cameron Smith is in position Z on the 17th hole.
He has hit his approach shot short of the famous bunker on the front of the green and now he faces a horrid up-and-down.
McIlroy is going to par the 16th and Young is on the 17th green safely with a good look for birdie...
Rory McIlroy has been spotless from tee to green, but his putting has been second-best to the wand that Cameron Smith possesses.
The Aussie has hit a safe drive on the treacherous 17th hole, while Rory lines up his putt of about 18 feet on 16...
-19 C Smith (16)
-18 R McIlroy (15)
-17 C Young (16)
Oh how the tables can turn on the Old Course...
Rory McIlroy is greenside for two on the par-5 14th hole, but he fails to two-putt from an undulating, long distance.
He settles for par and with Smith in his rhythm, the 33-year-old may need to find some magic...
-19 C Smith (15)
-18 R McIlroy (14)
-17 C Young (15)
Wow! When Cameron Smith gets his putter rolling, he is unstoppable.
He found the par-5 14th green in two shots and he hit his 31-yard putt to tap-in range.
The Aussie, chasing his first major title, has reached 19-under-par and he is one ahead of McIlroy.
Cameron Young has also birdied the 14th hole, so he is just two shots behind on 17-under-par.
We have a new leader.
FIVE birdies in a row for Cameron Smith. He leads by 1 @TheOpen. pic.twitter.com/MdZD41yyer
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) July 17, 2022
After a bogey at the 13th hole, Viktor Hovland falls three shots behind on 15-under with five holes left.
He has made two bogeys today whereas Smith and McIlroy are yet to make a mistake on Sunday on the Old Course...
It is unlikely to be a first Claret Jug for Dustin Johnson...
He rolls in a solid birdie putt at the 15th hole, but he is now on 14-under-par and four shots behind McIlroy and Smith.
He came tied second at The Open in 2011 behind Darren Clarke at Royal St. George's...
Cameron Smith makes his fourth consecutive birdie on the 13th hole to reach 18-under-par!
He now co-leads with Rory McIlroy and they are two in front of Hovland and Young. Young also made a great birdie on the 13th hole to remain in contention.
Is the Aussie about to ruin the party?
Game on
4 birdies in a row to match @McIlroyRory at 18-under @TheOpen. pic.twitter.com/EnxEAV67dv
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) July 17, 2022
Rory may have been in control all day, but Hovland isn't lying down!
He makes a solid birdie after a fantastic approach to the 12th green, and McIlroy rolls his birdie putt by the lip.
-18 R McIlroy (12)
-17 C Smith (12)
-16 V Hovland (16)
Cameron Smith is an amazing putter!
His ball wiped its feet on its way into the hole on 12, but nonetheless, the Aussie is now just one shot behind on 17-under-pa with his fifth birdie of the day.
McIlroy is on the 12th tee box and he could drive the green...
It's hotting up now
Who've you got?#The150thOpenpic.twitter.com/pDXFBzFp33
— The Open (@TheOpen) July 17, 2022
After a fantastic approach putt on the 10th hole from 42 yards, Rory McIlroy taps in for a birdie to move to 18-under-par.
Cameron Smith birdied the 11th hole to reach 16-under, so the lead is still two shots. Smith is 4-under-par for the day.
Meanwhile, Hovland makes a clutch putt for a par on 10 to remain in the hunt three shots back...
It is fair to say it has been an uneventful final round of The 150th Open Championship, but Rory McIlroy still leads by two...
-17 R McIlroy (9)
-15 V Hovland (9), C Smith (10), C Young (10)
-13 D Johnson (12)
-12 J Spieth (13), T Fleetwood (12)
Dustin Johnson reaches 13-under-par with a birdie on the 11th hole, but with just seven holes left, will he run out of holes to catch McIlroy?
Cameron Smith had a great chance on 10 to get to 15-under with Viktor Hovland but missed, and Cameron Young has bogeyed the 10th to fall back to 14-under...
Adam Scott has reached 12th hole on 13-under but he has found a deep gorse with his tee shot. He is four shots behind.
Meanwhile, Hovland is set to make a par on the par-3 8th hole with McIlroy's putt set to come...
Rory McIlroy leads by two shots from Viktor Hovland on the 8th tee box. What a show these two superstars have put on so far this weekend...
A final group worthy of Championship Sunday#The150thOpenpic.twitter.com/6zFW4LMGmB
— The Open (@TheOpen) July 17, 2022
Cameron Young won't go down without a fight!
The American rolls in a birdie putt on the 7th hole to reach 15-under-par and within two shots of Rory McIlroy.
Young has come second on the PGA Tour three times this season...
After putting it on the 7th green from 54 yards away. he narrowly misses out on a birdie and keeps his two-shot lead over Viktor Hovland.
Cameron Smith and Cameron Young are still three shots behind, but Young has found the par-4 7th green in one shot...
The final group have reached hole 6, so here is the latest leaderboard at The 150th Open Championship...
-17 R McIlroy (5)
-15 V Hovland (5)
-14 C Smith (6), C Young (6)
-12 Fleetwood (7), D Johnson (7), S W Kim (7)
-11 S Kaewkanjana (F), A Ancer (F), D Burmester (14), B Harman (11), K Kisner (11)
Rory McIlroy also takes advantage of the par-5 5th hole, making the easiest birdie you'll see all day to reach 17-under.
After missing the fairway, Hovland can only make a par and now he is two shots behind on 15-under...
Cameron Smith and Cameron Young is only two shots behind on 14-under!
Both playing partners holed birdie putts on the 4th hole to get within two shots of Rory McIlroy.
Meanwhile, the Northern Irishman has found the 5th green in two shots and has a good look at eagle...
Hovland left himself a treacherous two-putt on the 4th hole and he ended up three-putting for a bogey 5.
He is now one shot behind Rory McIlroy who now leads on his own on 16-under-par...
Jordan Spieth isn't out of this just yet. He holes a fantastic 11-foot putt on the 7th hole to reach 12-under!
He is 4-under-par after seven holes and he has made the most significant move of any player on Sunday at St Andrews...
Cameron Young has also made back-to-back birdies on holes 3 and 4 to reach 13-under. He is only three behind McIlroy and Hovland now...
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