The third round of the 154th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale belonged to Sam Burns, who continued the finest major championship performance of his career by firing a brilliant 5-under-par 65 on Saturday to take a two-shot lead into Sunday’s final round.
Just two weeks after welcoming his second daughter into the world, Burns finds himself 18 holes away from lifting the Claret Jug in a tournament he nearly skipped altogether.
After matching the major championship scoring record with a sensational 8-under 62 on Friday, Burns backed it up with another composed and clinical round to reach 10-under-par 200, putting himself in prime position to capture the first major championship of his career.
Burns’ presence at Royal Birkdale almost never happened. His wife, Caroline, had been expected to give birth just days before The Open, making it unlikely that the six-time PGA Tour winner would travel overseas. But after their daughter Belle was born on July 3, conversations with his wife—and even a phone call with close friend and world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler—ultimately convinced Burns to make the trip across the Atlantic.
Now, that decision has him standing on the doorstep of golf history.
Just one month ago, Burns narrowly missed forcing a playoff at the U.S. Open, falling one putt short after a spectacular finish. A year earlier, he carried the 54-hole lead at Oakmont before difficult rainy conditions derailed his title hopes on Sunday.
This time, Burns hopes the ending will be different.
Burns Saturday round came with an added challenge. He was paired with Bryson DeChambeau, whose every move attracted enormous galleries following Friday’s controversial two-stroke penalty for improving the area of his intended swing. Despite the distractions, Burns never lost focus.
Meanwhile, DeChambeau continued to embrace the spotlight. The two-time U.S. Open champion acknowledged fans throughout the day with high-fives and thumbs-up gestures while battling his way around Royal Birkdale. He was even par through 14 holes before birdies on the 15th and 17th briefly reignited his title hopes. A bogey on the 18th left him with a 69, marking his sixth consecutive Open Championship round in the 60s.
For the second straight day, DeChambeau declined to speak with the media following his round.
Burns closest challengers have little major championship success, creating an intriguing final round leaderboard.
Si Woo Kim posted a solid 67 to move into second place at 8-under, while New Zealand’s Ryan Fox delivered one of the rounds of the championship.
Fox became the third player this week to shoot a 62, tying the lowest 18-hole score in major championship history. The remarkable round vaulted the 39-year-old into the final pairing alongside Burns as he searches for his first major title.
Just three shots behind sit Ryan Gerard (69) and Australia’s Lucas Herbert (71), another player who matched the record with a 62 on Friday.
None of the four players immediately behind Burns has ever won a major championship. Although Burns controls the tournament, several elite players remain within striking distance.
DeChambeau shares fifth place at 6-under, four shots back alongside Sweden’s Ludvig Åberg (67) and surprise contender Jackson Suber (70).
Among the contenders, DeChambeau is the only player with major championship victories, having won the U.S. Open in both 2020 and 2024.
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, Burns’ close friend and frequent practice-round partner, continues to hit the ball beautifully from tee to green but simply cannot buy a putt.
Scheffler carded a 70, leaving him six shots behind despite striking the ball as well as anyone in the field. His streak of 34 consecutive holes without a bogey ended on the 16th after missing a 3½-foot par putt.
Still hanging around is local favorite Tommy Fleetwood, whose 69 leaves him five shots off the lead with hometown fans hoping for a memorable Sunday charge.
Former Masters champion Jon Rahm overcame an opening-hole double bogey to shoot 70, while defending Open champion Xander Schauffele fired a 66, although it felt overshadowed after watching Fox’s spectacular 62 unfold alongside him.
Eight players are separated by just four shots entering Sunday’s championship finale.
Royal Birkdale continues to present a fascinating test. The baked-out fairways have produced firm, fast conditions, while the wispy rough and deep bunkers remain the course’s greatest defense. Surprisingly manageable winds after Thursday’s opening round have allowed aggressive scoring, setting up what promises to be an entertaining finish.
For Burns, the mission is simple. He has already proven he belongs on golf’s biggest stages. Now comes the hardest part—closing one out.
After nearly staying home to be with his growing family, Burns now stands just one round away from completing one of the most remarkable stories of the year.
The Claret Jug is finally within reach.
