Intriguing 3rd round, exceptionally difficult conditions and only 7 players under par now. Scottie still leads the way even though he made 4 bogeys on the back 9. Smith was back to his best and Im played well again. Lowry threw it away on the back 9 with some terrible wedge shots, usually his strong point and Schwartzel ran out of steam too. I've backed both Scottie and Smith so don't mind which one wins but Smith would get me more so come on the Aussie. Only worry as has happened to me before is that they both shoot over par and Im shoots a 67 and wins ! Should come down to a shootout on the back 9 and bound to be plenty of nerves flying around as none of the 3 have won a major yet, even though Scottie is World number 1 and absolutely flying and Smith has just won the Players. Pour a glass of something soothing and sit back and enjoy (hopefully).
I recognise that Smith is an Aussie and as such has challenges, but does he have that hair and tache for a bet?
It's happened so often that someone has a run and steals it whilst the leaders are busy watching each other. Conditions won't be easy and it's easy to melt under pressure, some big names lurking for that opportunity...
Scheffler chips in on 3 for birdie, smith has a testing 15 footer for par, could be a 2 shot swing....... close but no cigar..... 3 shot lead
I'm no golf fan, but the Sky commentators seem to be really trying to big this up, when it seems to me that the leader is looking very secure.
He always is these days when the lead is out of reach. For the last 4 years he's started majors very poorly and run through the field to get placed on the final day when there's no pressure on him.
Smith can rattle in 4 or 5 birdies on the trot but then usually throws in a bogey or 2 straight away. If could eradicate the dumb shots and realise to win a major you don't have to birdie every hole, then he could win a fair few !
And there you have it ! Smith brilliant birdie on 11 and then goes in the drink on 12, immediately alleviating the pressure on Scheffler
I've enjoyed having this on in the background for the last hour. Not normally one to enjoy watching golf.
Yes, he had grown it for a bet with his mates but decided to keep it going there afterwards. l’m sure it’s costing him millions in loss of sponsorship.
Unfortunately, Smithy dogged it again. Brilliant work by McIvoy to shoot 64 and equal the course record. Well done to Scheffler to win it.