Ryan Fox Makes 72nd Hole Birdie To Win Maiden Major Title At The Open

RYAN FOX WINS THE OPEN!

Now Ryan Fox to win the Claret Jug. He is within 12 feet of glory. He gets there and the New Zealander is the Champion Golfer of the Year!

NOT TO BE FOR SAM BURNS

Burns to putt first to stay in the running. He has 28 feet to the pin. It misses left and for the second consecutive Major he comes up just short. You have to feel for him.

FANTASTIC, MR FOX!

Fox has 176 yards to the pin. It's a beauty! That leaves a great look to win in regulation from 11 feet.

Sam Burns, needing a birdie to stand a chance, leaves his with more to do, but he'll have a chance.

KIM SHOOTS 72

Si Woo Kim finishes with a bogey for 72 and in a tie for sixth. Disappointing for Kim, who led earlier in the day, but his best Major finish.

FOX AND BURNS AT 18

Both Fox and Burns find the fairway off some very capable tee shots at 18. Remember, Fox needs a birdie to avoid a playoff with Cameron Young. Burns needs a birdie for the chance to get to extra holes.

ALL OVER FOR KIM

Si Woo Kim's last chance of victory ends when he doesn't hole his approach at 18. That leaves Cam Young, Ryan Fox and Sam Burns with the only chances of winning.

Burns and Fox are at 18.

WELL DONE, LUCAS!

An excellent week for Lucas Herbert ends with a par for a 71. He's T7 at -6.

TOMMY TAKES THE APPLAUSE

A special moment for Tommy Fleetwood a little while ago in front his adoring home fans...

AGONY FOR FOX

Now Ryan Fox for the solo lead. Oh, that's agonizing. It just breaks left and he'll remain tied for the lead. He's had no luck in this last half an hour or so. One to play.

BURNS MISSES BIRDIE CHANCE

With his third, Sam Burns goes over the pin to the back of the green. It's a birdie look, but not an easy one.

Here comes that opportunity... and it stops short.

BIRDIE CHANCE AT 17

Sam Burns is in the right rough at 17, and it's not a great lie. He doesn't look delighted with the result, which goes left.

Now Ryan Fox with his third. Now that's lovely. It stops 10 feet short of the pin and he will have his birdie chance for the solo lead.

FOX ON THE FAIRWAY

Fox gets out of a bunker following another unlucky break at the par-5 17th. That was awkward, but he's back on the fairway. The birdie hopes he'd have had for this hole are in the balance, though.

FOX FINDS BUNKER AT 17

All eyes on Ryan Fox now, who is surely eyeing a birdie chance at the par-5 17th. His tee shot looks good, but it trickles into a bunker to make his life more complicated.

DECHAMBEAU FINISHES WITH PAR

At 18, Bryson DeChambeau finishes an eventful week with a par for -4. A triple-bogey at 11 did for his chances today.

FOX BIRDIES 16!

Now Ryan Fox with a 15-footer for birdie at 16. He walks it in and the New Zealander is back in the co-lead!

Immediately after, playing partner Sam Burns saves par at the same hole to stay one back.

TOMMY FINISHES GOOD WEEK WITH BIRDIE

One of the biggest roars of the day is reserved for Tommy Fleetwood, who birdies 18 to complete a 68. It won't be enough to win, but he's currently T4.

WELL DONE, RYAN!

Ryan Fox is made of tough stuff. After some horrible luck at 15, he bounces back at 16 with an approach that leaves a lovely look for birdie. He's fighting all the way.

A PENNY FOR YOUNG'S THOUGHTS

It must be agony to be Cameron Young just now. On the one hand, he's done his job with the low round of the day that might yet see him lift the Claret Jug. On the other, there's no way he can affect what's going on out there - just wait, and hope, he's done enough for at least a playoff. Agony!

BOGEY FOR FOX

After his brutal break in the bunker, Ryan Fox completes a bogey at 15. That drops him back from a share of the lead but he's hanging in there.

BIRDIE-BIRDIE

FOXY GOES BACKWARDS

Sure enough, Fox splashes back out of the bunker and 50 yards down the fairway.

If he makes an up-and-down he'll drop to eight-under.

HORRIBLE LIE

Oh Foxy...

He goes at the flag at the par 3 15th, but it hits the bunker and fires into the sand.

To make matters worse, his ball has finished at the back of the bunker and he will have no shot whatsoever.

SHARE OF THE LEAD

From two-foot, Fox converts and that's back-to-back birdies for the New Zealander, who moves alongside Young at nine-under-par.

Burns, meanwhile, played a poor bunker shot and could only two-putt for par. He remains eight-under.

Up ahead, Kim sees his birdie putt from long range narrowly miss on the high-side, with a tap-in meaning he remains eight-under.

FOX IS FEELING IT

Fox goes left with his approach at the par 5 14th, finding the thick rough.

He has a great lie, though, and capitalizes via an excellent chip that runs up to a few feet.

If he rolls that in he will move alongside Young at nine-under-par.

GOOD WEEK FOR DAN BROWN

Dan Brown has struggled for form this year, but the Englishman finishes three-under for the championship and will likely be inside the top 20.

SAFELY DONE FOR KIM

After finding the green with his third, Kim leaves his birdie putt short and taps in for a par to remain eight-under through 14.

In that pair, Ryan Gerard also makes a par to stay six-under. He's one-over for his round today.

BURNS MAKING SAVES

FAIRWAYS FOUND AT 14

Both Fox and Burns pound their tee shots down the middle at the 14th, with both in-range to go for the green at the par 5.

FANTASTIC FOX

KIM D.O.D

At the par 5 14th, Kim goes right with his tee shot, with it finding the second cut.

The lie is good, which makes Kim hit a driver of the deck. He makes good contact, but it's left and finds the thick rough on the left-side.

FOX TO EIGHT-UNDER

The drive and approach deserved the birdie, and that's what Fox gets at the 14th.

His birdie attempt falls in the right-side of the hole and he gets to eight-under alongside Kim and Burns.

All three men are one back of Young, who is in the clubhouse.

CRUCIAL SAVE FOR BURNS

Stunning save from Burns, who plays a clever pitch to the right of the bunker and on to the green.

From 30-feet, his par putt is tracking and slams into the hole, meaning he stays eight-under via an incredible save.

385 YARD DRIVE FOR FOX

Unbelievable drive from Fox at the par 4 13th, who has just 114 yards left in at the 499 yard hole.

Following the drive, he plays an equally gorgeous sand wedge that finishes six-feet from the flag, leaving a great chance at birdie.

In his pairing, Burns pulls his second well left and has a difficult up-and-down coming up.

WE WILL HAVE A NEW OPEN CHAMPION

As Scheffler finishes up, we will have a new name on the Claret Jug, with the top 10 consisting of players who are yet to win The Open Championship.

CLOSING BOGEY FOR THE WORLD NO.1

Scheffler goes right of the green at the last and, with the putter, he races his birdie effort well by the hole.

That needed to drop to match Young and, with Scheffler missing his putt coming back, it's a closing bogey and seven-under score for the World No.1.

HOW DID SCOTTIE MAKE BIRDIE?

CHUNKY FOR FOX

It seems that many are struggling this afternoon, and that's shown by the final group.

Burns goes left at the 12th and leaves a horrible chip shot, while Fox fats his iron and barely makes the greenside bunker.

In fairness to Fox, he produces a delightful shot from the sand that ends five-feet away. What's more, he holes the par putt to remain seven-under.

CAMERON YOUNG LEADS THE OPEN

Kim has made back-to-back bogeys at the 11th and 12th and he drops from 10-under to eight-under.

Burns, meanwhile, has parred the 11th to remain eight-under, while Fox bogeys and drops to seven-under.

The wind is getting up at Royal Birkdale and pars are becoming like gold dust.

YOUNG REACTS

"I was really just proud of the way I put it together, the way I did it more than the round itself.

"Yesterday was tough. It's one of those nights where you're kind of -- I don't want to say down. It's still just kind of a bad day at work, and I'm fortunate to have a cool job. Yeah, it's a frustrating night.

"To come out, and I feel like I was really clear minded all day. I had a really clear intention what I was going to do. Yeah, just executed that really, really well, and it happened to add up to 64.

"It could have been 68; it could have been 60. Just I played really well."

THAT'S THE LUCKIEST BIRDIE I'VE EVER SEEN

Scottie Scheffler has pulled off a miraculous birdie!

Putting his third at the par 5 17th to 11-feet, he rolls it in to gain a shot on the leaders.

Incredible scenes for the World No.1, who looked set to drop at least one shot there...

KIM DROPS A SHOT

He plays an average third from the rough and, missing his par attempt, Kim taps in for a bogey and drops back to nine-under.

He shares the lead with Young, who is currently looking good in the clubhouse right now.

BIG BREAKS

After bogeying the 11th, Herbert then pulls his tee shot well left at the par 3 12th, but it hits the slope and shoots on to the green.

Up ahead, Scheffler is actually playing his third shot and not his fifth!

Because his ball is in a temporary immovable obstruction (hospitality tent), it doesn't have to be found, meaning he can take a free drop on the line of sight.

Huge break for the World No.1, who plays a gorgeous shot to 11-feet and will have a birdie putt when a bogey was on the cards.

HERBERT BOGEYS

Herbert drops a shot at the par 4 11th following a poor tee shot.

He falls to seven-under, three back of Kim, who is in a bunker and can only advance it 75 yards up, missing the fairway in the process.

FIRST BALL NOT FOUND

The first ball of Scheffler's hasn't been found. He heads over to his provisional and will play that, which will be his fifth shot.

PARS FOR THE FINAL GROUP

Fox and Burns get their back nines underway, with the duo both parring the 10th and remaining eight-under.

WHAT ON EARTH?

Links golf produces moments of chaos and, at the 17th, Scheffler goes for the green with his second, with the ball sat up superbly.

Striking his fairway wood, he gets the height, but it's reportedly gone 100 yards left and over towards hospitality.

Currently, it's unclear as to whether the ball has been located or not, or even if it's out of bounds, but Scheffler is hitting a provisional, which also goes left, albeit not as far.

TRIPLE FOR BRYSON

That's DeChambeau's race run on Sunday, with the two-time Major winner making a triple bogey at the 11th.

He goes from five-under to two-under, well back of leader Kim.

BIG SAVE FOR SI WOO

Putting from off the green at the 10th, Kim's putt races by seven-feet and he's left with a testing effort to save his par.

Making contact, it never looks anywhere else as it drops in the center of the cup for the save. He remains 10-under and one ahead of Young.

BIRDIE AT THE 16TH

Scheffler is going after it over the remaining few holes, with the World No.1 pounding his driver off the tee at the 16th.

He then fires in an excellent wedge to 10-feet and rolls in a great birdie putt to move to seven-under.

At the next, though, he cuts a frustrated figure as his tee shot finds the fairway bunker. He can't believe it, and shouts "just give me one bounce."

He'll be forced to lay-up.

LOST BALL FOR BRYSON?

He's gone left off the tee at the 11th and we have a large search party currently looking for his ball.

HERBERT IS MOVING

Back-to-back birdies for Herbert at the ninth and 10th gets him to eight-under, just two back of Kim, who is left off the tee on the 10th.

OH FOXY

That's a huge mistake from Fox, who goes long of the green on the ninth and, with the chip, doesn't make it up the hill.

It rolls back to his feet and, although he plays a great fourth, that'll be a bogey at best for the New Zealander.

SO CLOSE AT THE LAST

OH NO TOMMY

He's bogeyed the ninth and 10th and, following a poor approach, Fleetwood bogeys the 11th to make it three in a row.

He drops from eight-under to five-under in the space of 45 minutes.

CLUBHOUSE TARGET SET

Young converts and he sets the clubhouse target at nine-under-par.

We are in for a thrilling back nine here at Royal Birkdale.

GREAT EFFORT FROM YOUNG

From the greenside bunker, Young almost holes out for what would be an incredible par!

His fourth runs by a few feet, and that putt will be for a six-under 64. The Players Championship winner would set the target at nine-under if he were to hole it.

SAFE PAR FOR KIM

Playing the par 4 eighth, Kim safely two putts and maintains his 10-under score.

Up ahead, Scheffler also two putts the 14th to remain seven under and three back of the South Korean.

DOUBLE BUNKER

Young takes aim at the flag from the right rough but only succeeds in finding the short-sided bunker right next to the flag. I think it's fair to say the clubhouse target is only going to be nine-under now...

HUGE MISTAKE

Cameron Young has 187 yards to go out of the right fairway bunker and he's going to have to send the ball on a pretty sharp trajectory to get it out. He's going to have a crack at the green. That's a big call.

Oh no! He's hit the wall and it's bounded just into the rough up ahead. What a moment. It wasn't even close to missing the revetted bunker wall.

BACK-TO-BACK BOGEYS

Fleetwood drops another shot as he makes the turn, with his par attempt just skirting around the left edge of the hole at 10. He's back to six-under.

TROUBLE BREWING

Just before Si Woo Kim pulls his drive at the eighth well left, Fleetwood chips an awkward length past the hole at the 10th. He will have a tricky little downhill left-to-right putt to come.

Up ahead, at the 18th, Young has found a fairway bunker on the right as he tries to set the clubhouse target on 10-under.

YOUNG LOOKING TO DRAW LEVEL

At the par-5 17th, Young chips to a couple of feet and should be about to draw level with Si Woo Kim, who has just escaped at the par-3 seventh. It wasn't the best birdie try from the South Korean, but his par effort was comfortably holed.

EIGHT IN A ROW

Bryson DeChambeau has now made eight pars in a row to start his day. He's not made anything happen so far, but he's only four back. DeChambeau is still in this...

MCILROY ENDS ONE-UNDER

The 2014 Open champion finds himself stuck in a bunker left of the 18th and ultimately ends with a bogey to finish the week on one-under. That isn't how he'd have liked to finish his Major season.

Now it's on to the end of the PGA Tour season and a crack at winning another Race To Dubai title on the DP World Tour.

BURNS PENALTY

Sam Burns is slightly unravelling here. His tee shot finds the brook down the left of six and he will need to take a drop. The American is now left of the green in three and has to chip in/putt from off the green to suffer no more damage.

GOOD BOGEYS

That isn't a bad bogey for Fleetwood, given the way that hole turned out. The long approach gave him no shot back, and a clumsy chip to 30 feet left a toughy for par. Fleetwood underhit his par putt but sunk the bogey try from six feet.

He's seven-under and three back now, as is Scheffler who endures a pretty similar story at the 13th.

SI WOO KIM LEADS

From the left of the sixth hole, Kim rails a putt home for birdie and reaches 10-under. That was a real bonus, but it's catapulted him to the top of the Open leaderboard!

FOUR-WAY TIE

The lead is now nine-under as Burns makes bogey at the fifth. That was really horrible from the American.

His playing partner is one of those on nine-under still after finding his drive, chipping into the heart of the green and then lipping out from about 25 feet. It looked good for a long way only to decide it didn't fancy dropping at the final moment.

WHAT IS GOING ON?!

What is going on at the moment? McIlroy is well right on 18, he's in with the fans. Burns is making a mess of the fifth. Scheffler goes well right off the tee at the 13th and chunks his next shot from the sandy dunes right in front of himself. Fleetwood flies his approach into the ninth well long and into the long grass. It's carnage at The Open Championship right now! Carnage, I tell ye!

HEAVY HANDED

Burns clips a pitch shot from off one side of the green to the other. The 'oohs' from the crowd are telling. They know that was clumsy from Burns. I said there didn't seem to be any nerves earlier on, but they really seem to be on show now.

And the clumsiness continues. Burns' putt rolls way past the hole and he'll have 20 feet or so for par.

SI WOO KIM SNEAKING UP THE RAIL

At the drivable par-4 fifth hole, Si Woo Kim clips his ball to a foot away and taps in for birdie. If he can putt well, the south Korean has a great chance because he's been in fine form this year.

Kim up to nine-under through five. One back.

MCILROY GRABS ONE BACK

The six-time Major winner hasn't enjoyed the day he might have hoped, but a close chip at the par-5 17th has left a tap-in birdie and he'll return to two-under for the Championship.

FOX IN TROUBLE?

Fox's drive at the fifth looks to be in trouble after going way right. We'll find out shortly what the situation is. Meanwhile, Burns draws his tee shot quite far left towards the rough but he should have a good look back across the green still from a roll-off area.

LISTEN TO THAT ROAR

Fleetwood just catches enough of the left side at number eight and he's up into a share of fourth alongside Scheffler. The crowd roars with delight. Fleetwood clenches his fist. Eight-under and only two back. Can he?

SCHEFFLER STARTING TO ROLL

He's finally made one of note! Scottie Scheffler is up into a tie for fifth on eight-under after holing a birdie try on number 11. A fist pump arrives. He knows that could be the start of something.

YOUNG WIDE RIGHT

Young's try on the 16th isn't particularly close and trickles on some three feet by.

FLEETWOOD THROWING DARTS

From 178 yards at the eighth, Fleetwood drops his approach just past the front-left bunker and rolls it up to five or six feet past the flag. That's a chance. But you feel like it might have to go with the halfway mark coming up and 10-under the minimum number likely required.

Elsewhere, DeChambeau saves par at the sixth to maintain his run of pars to start the final round. Not likely to get it done, that.

YOUNG ON BOARD AT 15

The par-3 15th is playing a full 241 yards today. Young crunches a modestly drawn iron towards the back portion where the flag is, and he'll have a decent look at drawing alongside Burns. Even a par wouldn't be a bad result on this hole today, you wouldn't have thought.

BURNS BOGEY

The lead is down to one! Burns can't rescue his poor chip and that'll be a bogey at the opening par-3. Meanwhile, Fox stays within one following a sumptuous bunker shot and tap-in par.

YOUNG INTO A SHARE OF SECOND

At the 14th, Young sinks his birdie putt from five feet to reach nine-under. He's flying today, and you feel anyone who sits in double figures under par through 72 holes will have a chance.

WAYWARD FINAL DUO

That won't get it done from Fox and Burns. Neither finds the green at the first par-3. Fox is in the left green-side bunker while Burns comes up way short. The American's pitch onto the green is undercooked as well. Might the lead be cut in half?

FULL TOUR

Beautiful touch from Fleetwood at the seventh as he clips a chip and run onto the green before watching it track towards the hole. It looked so good for such a long way, only to drift around the back of the hole by a couple of inches. Fleetwood knew that was close.

POWERS OF RECOVERY

DeChambeau does well to recover the situation at the par-4 fifth after two iffy shots prior.

Likewise, Fox chips well past at the third and has 20 feet or more for par downhill, which he sinks!

In addition, Burns plays a splendid bunker shot to kick-in range and he will remain at 11-under. That's a hat-trick of excellent recovery shots.

MCILROY DOUBLE

Not a factor anymore, McIlroy misses a six-foot par putt at the par-4 16th. He will fall to at least two-under, with the bogey certainly not a gimme by any means.

Oh goodness, he's missed that one as well. It's a double-bogey six for McIlroy with only two holes left to play.

NOT A GOOD SHOT

That is not a good shot from Burns. 187 yards to the flag at the third and he pushes his ball into one of the green-side bunkers. It was actually lucky it even end there with the slopes sort of pulling it back towards the green. Let's hope that's not a pattern of what's to come.

ALMOST AN ALL-TIMER

Fleetwood has 247 yards to the flag at the par-4 sixth, which is playing 520 yards today, and he cracks a superb 9-wood right at the target. It rolls towards the hole and looks for all money as though it might even drop, only to take a look in the hole before carrying on to the back of the putting surface.

LUCKY BREAK

I wish I had breaks like this. Burns pulls his tee shot at the third well left and it's heading straight for either the fans or a large bush.

Somehow, it bounces off the slope between the two parties and rebounds back towards the fairway. Now, he has a perfect lie and a good look at the green. Maybe Burns' name really is on the Claret Jug?

GREAT TOUCH FROM BRYSON

In a similar spot to Fleetwood earlier on, DeChambeau is required to clip a delicate chip over the right green-side bunker at the fourth. He does it to near-perfection with the ball tracking towards the hole, only to come up a couple of feet short. That'll be a par.

BURNS TO 11-UNDER

Burns duly does poke his ball home in three at the second, pushing him up to 11-under for the championship.

Fleetwood is up to seven-under, but that's once again four shots back.

FOX UP TO NINE-UNDER

Don't forget about Ryan Fox! The Kiwi slots a lovely mid-range putt at the second to reach nine-under.

HOT SHOT FROM BURNS

The chasers are about to be dealt their first blow as Burns clips a delightful approach to three feet at the second. The best putter on the PGA Tour isn't going to miss that. Hell, even I might sink that one. 11-under incoming.

BIRDIE IN BOUND

His chip across the green appeared a little too aggressive at first from Fleetwood, but he judged the chip and run to perfection and it is a kick-in birdie. Fleetwood should shortly be on seven-under. Three back.

DRIVE FOR SHOW

Fleetwood pumps his driver at the fifth onto the green but it just falls off the left side. He should be able to get up and down from there, though.

Back at the second, Burns and Fox both execute brilliant drives as well. There doesn't seem to be much in the way of nerves from the final pair so far.

PARS TO START

Sam Burns and Ryan Fox play beautiful long lag putts at the first and both walk away with pars to start.

A few holes ahead, Fleetwood remains bogey-free after one-putting for par at the first par-3.

WIND IS BLOWING

The wind seems to have really picked up now. Apparently, gusts of up to 18-20mph are due. Fox comes up short on the first hole with his ball only just making the putting surface due to a modest puff.

Shortly after, Burns pushes his shot a little right of its intended target and he will have a monster look left for birdie.

NEAR HOLE-OUT

Fleetwood pushes his tee shot at the par-3 fourth and has a tricky little chip shot left. But he nearly holes it! A positive shot sees some grab take place and the ball ends no more than three feet away.

SOLID START

Everyone is underway in the final round as Ryan Fox and Sam Burns both hit their drives into the right rough. Their lies both look OK, though, so there shouldn't be any real problems at this stage.

FLEETWOOD HAS ANOTHER BIRDIE CHANCE

Fleetwood's approach is great for distance at the third but not quite on in terms of direction. Nevertheless, he will have a chance to gain another shot.

The home hero will be really keen to start landing a little closer to flags, otherwise his putter will need to do an awful lot of work.

The flat stick can't quite provide any more heroics just yet, though. Fleetwood taps in for par and is one-under through his first three holes today. Six-under for the championship.

LEADERS ON THE TEE

Here they come. Ryan Fox joins Sam Burns on the first tee at Royal Birkdale. Burns, who has a two-stroke lead to start, is only 18 holes away from becoming The Open champion.

FRUSTRATION FOR BRYSON

Bryson over-borrows at the second and his putt, which is a good weight, just doesn't turn back to the right when he needs it to. The American calls for it to break, but his ball doesn't listen.

DECHAMBEAU HAS A LOOK

At the second, DeChambeau flies his approach hole high but it's 25 feet out to the left. It's a look, nevertheless as he aims to pile the pressure on Burns, who is just making his way to the first tee.

AM I DREAMING?

Cam Young punches a drive down the par-4 11th and finds what appears to be a mirage - a section of legitimately green grass. What a lucky devil.

FIRST PAR FOR FLEETWOOD

The Englishman's approach into two was decent, as was his birdie try from 20 feet, but he'll have to make do with a par after that magic birdie at the first.

Elsewhere, McIlroy comes up empty at the 13th when looking for a birdie of his own.

ABERG AND HERBERT UNDERWAY

The LIV golfer, who was leading at the halfway stage, is underway in round four looking for a fast start as he attempts to recapture top spot. Both he and Aberg thump it down the right side of the fairway on one.

CAM YOUNG IN CLOSE ON 10

Young tried to cut the corner on the 10th and, although he found the left rough, he wedges it to within about 7ft. The greens are very soft as he stopped that incredibly quickly from the rough.

FLEETWOOD FINDS THE FAIRWAY ON 2

A lovely baby draw with his mini driver finds the left-side of the fairway and that will set up a good chance for birdie. There have been a lot of 3s at the 2nd today and Fleetwood would love to get off to a birdie-birdie start.

It comes up around 30ft short...the wind is definitely getting up now.

TOMMY LAD!!

Unbelievable. Tommy Fleetwood has just holed an absolute monster putt at the 1st. Remember when I said he'll do well to two-putt it? It went in dead-center. Incredible! He is within four now.

I heard the roar about 5 minutes ago and assumed it was from the 9th green, which is fairly close to the media center. That was the biggest roar of the week so far.

CAMERON YOUNG WITHIN TWO!

Cam Young birdies the 9th and he is now just two back of Sam Burns' lead. The World No.4 is out in 29 (-5) and up to eight-under for the tournament.

Bryson DeChambeau has just nuked a drive down the 1st, while Hideki Matsuyama has also just made back-to-back birdies to get to six-under.

BRYSON DECHAMBEAU UP NEXT

DeChambeau and Jackson Suber are next on the tee.

Both men begin the day at six-under-par, which is four back of the lead.

FLEETWOOD'S SECOND INTO THE 1ST

He found a good lie in the burnt-out rough and his 5-iron just about finds the front-edge of the green. That may be a testing two-putt with the pin all the way at the back.

The wind appears to be getting up.

GREAT STAT

The last calendar year with three British-born men's Major winners? 1920.

We have had Rory McIlroy and Aaron Rai already this year...can 'Tommy Lad' make it a third?

FLEETWOOD UNDERWAY

I heard that roar loud and clear from the media centre...it's an unbelievable atmopshere!

Fleetwood pulls his fairway wood up the left-hand side of the 1st hole. Hopefully he didn't get a bad break...we shall find out.

14 MINUTE DELAY CONFIRMED

It has been confirmed we have a 14-minute delay. That means the final group will now be teeing off at 2.34pm local time

• 2.04pm: Jackson Suber, Bryson DeChambeau
• 2.14pm: Ludvig Aberg, Lucas Herbert
• 2.24pm: Ryan Gerard, Si Woo Kim
• 2.34pm: Ryan Fox, Sam Burns

PERFECT START FOR SCOTTIE

Scheffler is now seven-under-par for the tournament after three birdies in his opening five. If he can pick up one more on the front nine then he could well be primed for a special finish here to post a clubhouse target.

FLEETWOOD ON THE 1ST TEE

The Southport man arrives on the 1st tee to a huge ovation from the home crowd.

He starts the day at -6, four back of Sam Burns' lead. Conditions are primed for low scores at the minute, although bogeys are easily made with the firm conditions and steady breeze.

SCHEFFLER SETS UP ANOTHER BIRDIE

Scheffler hits a gorgeous pitch up the green on the 5th to within 5ft after almost driving the green.

That *should* be converted and move him to -3 thru 5 and to within three of his best buddy Sam Burns.

Update: It finds the bottom of the cup.

TEE TIMES DELAYED

We have a 15-minute delay to tee times, I think because of Jon Rahm's out of bounds opening drive.

The group of Xander Schauffele and Eric Cole have just started 15 minutes late, while Tommy Fleetwood waits in the walkway.

YOUNG TAKES ADVANTAGE OF LUCKY BREAK

Cam Young's drive pops out of a bunker on the 8th and he manages to hit a controlled wedge shot pin-high right to set up another great look at birdie. He'll have around 15ft down the hill to get to within two.

Update: It slides by the left side

LOWRY HOLED BUNKER SHOT!

Shane Lowry holes it from the greenside bunker on the par 3 4th for back-to-back birdies. He lets out a huge fist pump!

The 2019 Champion Golfer of the year is up to five-under now.

MCILROY BIRDIES 10

The World No.2 moves to four-under for the tournament and -2 for the day with a birdie at the 10th.

That puts him to T14th.

JUST FOUR GROUPS REMAINING

Tommy Fleetwood and Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen are about to get underway, meaning there will be just four groups left to go out...

• 1.50pm: Jackson Suber, Bryson DeChambeau
• 2.00pm: Ludvig Aberg, Lucas Herbert
• 2.10pm: Ryan Gerard, Si Woo Kim
• 2.20pm: Ryan Fox, Sam Burns

FLEETWOOD UP NEXT

The home hero is walking towards the 1st tee ahead of getting his final round underway.

Can he do it? He starts four back and is going to need to go out in three-under at least I would say. Come on Tommy lad.

HENLEY TO SIX!

The World No.5 rolls it in the center of the cup from around 18ft on the 11th hole for back-to-back birdies.

He is now five-under for the round and up to -6.

We have Scheffler (World No.1), Young (No.4) and Henley (No.5) all going low so far this afternoon.

LOWRY BIRDIES 3

The Irishman hit a beauty into the 3rd and he converts from around 5ft to get back to four-under after dropping a shot at the 1st.

YOUNG SETS UP A GOOD BIRDIE LOOK AT 7

Cam Young wedges it to around 15ft left of the hole on the short par 3 7th. That's a great chance coming up.

Update: He misses just to the left

Scheffler has just missed the par 3 4th green, putting it in the bunker left. He looks perplexed.

His bunker shot is sensational and that will be a good par save.

SCHEFFLER PARS 3

The World No.1 hit a lovely iron into the 3rd, leaving himself pin-high some 20ft left but his putt just slides by.

He is two-under thru 3 holes and is right in the mix now at just four back.

Could you imagine if he can continue this run and perhaps end up in a playoff against his best friend Sam Burns?

YOUNG'S 3-STREAK ENDS

Cam Young misses from 15ft on the 6th hole to 'only' make a par. He drove it 356 yards down the 520 yard par 4 and reduced it to a mere driver-wedge.

RUSSELL HENLEY CHIP-IN

The World No.5 chips in for birdie on the 10th to keep his incredible round going - that puts him four-under for the day and five-under for the tournament.

He's probably too far back with just eight to play, but it could well be a back-door top-10.

RAHM DOUBLES THE 1ST

It's another nightmare start for Jon Rahm.

He has gone out of bounds twice in a row on the 1st hole and he has double-bogeyed it both Saturday and Sunday. He falls to -2.

YOUNG BIRDIES 5

It's a great putt for Cameron Young on the 5th, which had a decent amount of break in it. He moves up to seven-under-par after his fifth consecutive 3.

UPCOMING TEE TIMES:

All times local

• 1.05pm: Cameron John, Dan Brown
• 1.15pm: Hideki Matsuyama, Kazuma Kobori
• 1.30pm: Eric Cole, Xander Schauffele
• 1.40pm: Tommy Fleetwood, Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen
• 1.50pm: Jackson Suber, Bryson DeChambeau
• 2.00pm: Ludvig Aberg, Lucas Herbert
• 2.10pm: Ryan Gerard, Si Woo Kim
• 2.20pm: Ryan Fox, Sam Burns

SCHEFFLER THROWING DARTS

The World No.1 sticks a wedge into the 2nd to set up his second successive birdie. He is going to get to six-under and within four.

It's a perfect start for Scottie.

Update: He does indeed hole it. Birdie.

CAM YOUNG IS FIRING

Young drives the par 4 5th but leaves his long birdie putt a good 6ft short. Big birdie putt coming up.

If he can hole it, he'll move to just three off the lead.

RAHM OUT OF BOUNDS...AGAIN!

Jon Rahm (-4) starts the day just six back of the lead but he has just pushed his tee shot out of bounds for the second successive day. Ouch.

ADAM SCOTT CHARGING

Adam Scott has just birdied the 10th to move to three-under for the round and -4 for the tournament. He's up to T13th now in his 101st consecutive Major appearance.

SCHEFFLER IN TIGHT AT THE 1ST

Scottie hits a beauty into the 1st and he will have a tap-in birdie to get to five-under-par.

The perfect start for the defending champion...who will be hoping to chase down his close friend Sam Burns.

BEST ROUND OF THE DAY..?

The lowest round of the day so far, in progress, comes from Rickie Fowler.

The 2014 Open runner-up is five-under-par thru 17 holes, courtesy of five birdies and no dropped shots.

He has jumped 46 places today and is now up to T12th.

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER UNDERWAY

The World No.1 stripes it down the 1st and is in position to mount a charge today. Scheffler is -4 and six back so will need to get a move-on early.

Incredibly he has made just three bogeys this week...while ranking 134th in Strokes Gained: Putting!

CAM YOUNG STARTS STRONG

The World No.4 has started birdie-birdie-birdie to jump from -3 to -6. He's suddenly within four strokes.

HELLO FROM ROYAL BIRKDALE

Hello and welcome to Golf Monthly's final round coverage of the 2026 Open.

It is a gorgeous day here at Royal Birkdale, with the sun shining and the breeze getting up.

I've had a walk around the golf course this morning and there's a few tucked pins on the back nine so scoring should be slightly more difficult today, especially as the greens firm up and the wind starts to gust.

Sam Burns takes a two-stroke lead into the final round and I think he is going to get it done - but there are plenty of players behind him ready to stamp their mark. It's set to be a fascinating last day.