Summary

  • Leaderboard: -13 R McIlroy (NI); -12 T Kim (Kor); -11 T Fleetwood (Eng), B Harman (US); -10 BH An (Kor), S Lowry (Ire), E Cole, JT Poston, S Scheffler (US) (*still on course)

  • MacIntyre top Scot, five behind leader

  • Start of third round brought forward because of impending weather

  1. Goodbye!published at 14:42 BST 15 July 2023

    McIlroy -13 (67), Kim -12 (67)

    It's another early start tomorrow. Forget the rain, forget the electrics, the worry is the wind with gusts of 40mph expected.

    Ewen Ferguson and Grant Forrest tee off at 08:28, with the leading group - Rory McIlroy, Tom Kim and Tyrrell Hatton - once again teeing off at 09:12.

    How will the players handle the conditions? Will Rory McIlroy finally win in the home of golf? Who will book their place at Hoylake next week?

    Join us tomorrow to find out. Until then, have a good one.

    Rory McIlroy drives in front of the 18th at the RenaissanceImage source, SNS
  2. Leaderboardpublished at 14:35 BST 15 July 2023

    Here's the state of play at the end of Round Three...

    -13 Rory McIlroy (67)

    -12 Tom Kim (67)

    -11 Tommy Fleetwood (63), Brian Harman (67)

    -10 Byeong-Hun An (69), Eric Cole (64), Shane Lowry (65), JT Poston (65), Scottie Scheffler (67)

    -9 Harry Hall (66), Tom Hoge (66), Max Homa (67)

    And here are the Scots, for those interested...

    -8 Bob MacIntyre (66)

    -6 Ewen Ferguson (70), Grant Forrest (70), Calum Hill (67)

    -5 Richie Ramsay (67)

    E Conor Syme (74)

  3. Fleetwood excels as we head towards a Super Sundaypublished at 14:28 BST 15 July 2023

    McIlroy -13 (67), Kim -12 (67)

    Well, there's no change in the headlines as Rory McIlroy's one-shot lead remains intact. It could have been better, but McIlroy was put under tremendous pressure from young Tom Kim and he held on.

    There's a decent chasing pack, though. It includes Max Homa, Scottie Scheffler, and Shane Lowry - who shot a magnificent 65 in one of today's highlights.

    The left-hander Brian Harman is in there too, currently tied third on -11. His short game was superb today and he'll be hoping for the same tomorrow.

    It was Tommy Fleetwood who had the best day, though. He went round in 63, one of the best scores of the whole competition, and has the pedigree and experience of links golf to make tomorrow very interesting indeed.

    Leaderboard on the way...

    Rory McIlroyImage source, SNS
  4. McIlroy wants to win in 'the home of golf'published at 14:27 BST 15 July 2023

    McIlroy -13 (67), Kim -12 (67)

    The leader after Round Three of the Scottish Open, Rory McIlroy, talks to Sky Sports: "I played very well again, especially the first 11 holes. There were a couple of squirrelly shots in there when the wind got up, it started to get pretty gusty.

    "I kept giving myself looks, I missed a couple of short ones, but overall still a great round of golf and I'm where I want to be going into tomorrow.

    "It was a nice start, I hit a great drive down the first. My five-iron into the 10th was the best shot I hit all day."

    Incredibly, McIlroy has never won in Scotland and he admits it's something he's desperate to do.

    "I am excited. I've had plenty of opportunities to win in Scotland and haven't got the job done. It's a great opportunity and I'd love to. It's the home of golf. It would be lovely to pick up a trophy."

  5. McIlroy's one-shot lead remainspublished at 14:13 BST 15 July 2023

    McIlroy -13 (67), Kim -12 (67)

    Kim's recovery is remarkable, and he's left himself a good chance of par.. and he sinks it! He owes that to his up-and-down third shot, that saved him. Terrific execution.

    McIlroy's putt comes up just short as the crowd on the 18th watches on. He had a big step to get up, and it just didn't have enough. It's close enough for a simple par, and he finishes three-under-par for the day.

    Hatton should get a good read of the green thanks to McIlroy's putt... but he hasn't hit it hard enough. Maybe his three-putt on the last hole went through his head. He's got a bit to do for par... and it lips out!

    Two three-putts to finish, oh boy. That's one unhappy Hatton.

  6. The leaders head to the final greenpublished at 14:05 BST 15 July 2023

    McIlroy -13 (17), Kim -12 (17)

    Brian Harman holes out with a brilliant par putt - he's 67, 65, 67 so far and that guarantees him the penultimate match tomorrow. He's joint third with Tommy Fleetwood on the leaderboard.

    Meanwhile, Tom Kim has gone from rough on the right to rough on the left on the 18th. He's seeing every part of this hole.

    Rory McIlroy has 166 yards to go, but a small target to aim at. It's right, but it's on the green. Tyrrell Hatton is in a similar position, as both players err on the side of safety.

  7. What's in the bag?published at 13:58 BST 15 July 2023

    McIlroy -13 (17)

    Richard Winton
    BBC Sport at Renaissance Club

    Rory McIlroy’s bagImage source, BBC Sport

    What do you thinks he's got in there? Clubs, balls and tees aside, obviously. Reckon Harry Diamond, Rory's caddie, is good with the snacks?

  8. Hatton bogeys as Harrington finishes in the top 20published at 13:57 BST 15 July 2023

    McIlroy -13 (17), Kim -12 (17)

    Padraig Harrington finishes on -7, just inside the top 20. He was par for the day, his worst round so far, but the 51-year-old is not out of this yet.

    Back to the 17th, where Tom Kim gets it over the step but it's still way short of the flag. He's putting for par, and he does so successfully.

    Tyrrell Hatton went harder than Kim - too hard - and it flies by the hole. He eyes up the par putt, with the Bass Rock gleaming in the distance. It tickles the cusp of the hole but stays out. A three-put bogey. That's tough to take.

    McIlroy puts it a foot from the hole with his second shot and knocks his third in gently. He gives the ball to a young lad in the crowd. He knows how to get you on-side.

  9. Scheffler finishes with an up-and-down 67published at 13:49 BST 15 July 2023

    McIlroy -13 (15), Kim -12 (15)

    It looked nice from Tyrrell Hatton, but it's rolled down into the swell and there's a little groan from the crowd. It filters back to the Englishman as he squints down the tee. He's never happy, is he?

    Tom Kim selects his blade of choice for the 197-yard 17th. There's a slight grimace from Kim as his ball trickles about two yards from Hatton's.

    Rory McIlroy keeps it on the right... and it rolls off to the edge of the green. 'Heid up!' is the cry from the crowd. Good advice.

    Scottie Scheffler is on the 18th green, it'll be a good putt to finish. And it is! Brilliant! Just when you think he's out, he pulls you back in! He finishes with two birdies and a 67.

  10. Postpublished at 13:45 BST 15 July 2023

    McIlroy -13 (16), Kim -12 (16)

    Tom Kim with a birdie chance on the 16th... but it just slides by! McIlroy can breathe a sigh of relief, especially as he sinks the par putt. He bumps a few fists in the crowd, a few days will be made with that.

    The final group heads onto the tricky par three 17th.

  11. Lowry casts off rustinesspublished at 13:43 BST 15 July 2023

    Martin Watt
    BBC Sport Scotland at Renaissance Club

    Shane Lowry feels he is back in the links groove after hitting "weird" shots earlier in the week.

    The Irishman, who carded a tidy 65 to leave him 10 under, said: "Living over in the States, it even takes like me like a while to get back playing here.

    "And I felt Thursday I was a bit rusty with it all, and I hit some really weird shots that I would never hit in a links tournament.

    "So I'm playing my way nicely into the week. I had two nice rounds the last two days and I'm in a nice position going into tomorrow.

    "We have got some strong winds tomorrow, so it will be interesting to to see what happens."

    Shane LowryImage source, SNS
  12. Harman makes a late movepublished at 13:35 BST 15 July 2023

    McIlroy -13 (15), Kim -12 (15)

    A slight change at the top of the leaderboard, with the left-handed Brian Harman picking up another birdie towards the end of his round and sitting two shots off the lead.

    Ewen Ferguson finishes with consecutive bogies in a disappointing end to what had been a decent round. He had threatened to move higher up the leaderboard, but finishes on par for the day.

    Scottie Scheffler drains a huge putt and he's back to -9 - what a tumultuous day the world number one has had. After an early double bogey he's been fighting back, but as usual - his putting hasn't been the best.

  13. McIlroy drops another as Kim goes inches shortpublished at 13:23 BST 15 July 2023

    McIlroy -13 (15), Kim -12 (15)

    Tom Kim comes within an inch of birdieing the 15th, but it's juuuuust short. That's dreadfully unlucky.

    Tyrrell Hatton has a much better chance, but he pushes it just wide. Two chances missed, especially as Rory McIlroy bogies another.

    His lead is halved.

    21-year-old Tom Kim is keeping the pressure on leader McIlroyImage source, SNS
    Image caption,

    21-year-old Tom Kim is keeping the pressure on leader McIlroy

  14. Cole masters 'tricky' windspublished at 13:07 BST 15 July 2023

    Martin Watt
    BBC Sport Scotland at Renaissance Club

    American Eric Cole may lack links experience, but it didn’t show as he plotted his way round in a impressive 64 to finish the day on -10.

    “I putted well, which was nice,” said the 35-year-old. “It wasn't crazy windy but it was pretty tricky with the wind and hit some good shots, and then when I did have an opportunity, they seemed to go in.

    “I've got very little experience on links courses. It's very different. But the main thing is just paying attention to what it's going to do on the round and making sure that the shot you're hitting matches what you're trying to do.”

    Eric ColeImage source, SNS
  15. McIlroy bounces back, Hatton fightspublished at 13:07 BST 15 July 2023

    McIlroy -14 (14), Kim -12 (14)

    Rory McIlroy is on the 15th - he birdied here yesterday. He's 10 or twelve feet from the hole... but it's a brilliant stroke and he sinks it. It's always good when you're able to bounce back.

    Tyrrell Hatton, his playing partner, holes from close range and that's back-to-back birdies for him now, getting up to -10.

    Shane Lowry on the 18th... he under-hits that chip and gives himself a lot to do with the putt. He pushes it right, and bogeys to finish on -10. 65 for the day.

  16. Postpublished at 13:00 BST 15 July 2023

    McIlroy -13 (13), Kim -12 (13)

    A round of 66 for American Tom Hoge has put him tied eighth - four under for the day and one of many who has impressed on moving day.

    McIlroy has the lead, just by one, but he's still got plenty of time to put some distance between himself and the chasing pack. He just needs to try and shake Tom Kim if he can.

    However, Bunkered's Michael McEwan asks a good question on Twitter...

    Michael McEwan tweets about Rory McIlroyImage source, Twitter
  17. Lowry moves to joint thirdpublished at 12:54 BST 15 July 2023

    McIlroy -13 (12), Kim -12 (12), Fleetwood -11 (63), Lowry -11 (17)

    Another birdie for Shane Lowry and he heads to third on the leaderboard alongside Tommy Fleetwood. After an opening round of 71, Lowry is one of a few who have come out swinging on day three.

    McIlroy threatens to extend the lead on the 13th, but his putt misses fractionally and he has to settle for par.

    Further back, Ewen Ferguson birdies to join Bob MacIntyre on -8. This tournament means a lot for the Glaswegian golfer, who has started to sport a magnificent mullet.

    Ewen FergusonImage source, SNS
  18. Brian Harman almost aces!published at 12:45 BST 15 July 2023

    McIlroy -13 (12), Kim -12 (12), Fleetwood -11 (63)

    Oh my! Almost a hole in one for Brian Harman! The ball bounces off the bottom of the flag and trickles away, practically sticking it's tongue out at Harman as if to say 'haha - you thought!'

    He's already done it twice in one round on the PGA Tour - back in 2015.

    He knocks in for birdie and heads to -10.

  19. McIlroy bogeys, Kim keeps pressure onpublished at 12:39 BST 15 July 2023

    McIlroy -13 (12), Kim -12 (12), Fleetwood -11 (63)

    Plenty are coming home before the rain comes, with the early tee time looking more and more vindicated.

    Back to the 12th and... for the first time today, McIlroy bogeys. His first shot wasn't nice but he gave himself a chance with his recovery, but then blows the par with an unforced error. It really is a rollercoaster watching him.

    Tom Kim pars, and trails by just a single shot again.

    Further back, there's another birdie for Harry Hall - another who needs a good performance to make the British Open at Hoylake next week. He's on -9.

    McIlroy cuts a frustrated figure as he misses a puttImage source, SNS
  20. Fleetwood happy to be 'near contention'published at 12:34 BST 15 July 2023

    McIlroy -14 (11), Kim -12 (11), Fleetwood -11 (63)

    Rory McIlroy overhits his iron on the 12th - we've not seen him do that very often lately! Tom Kim is a little long, too, but he's on the green at least.

    Meanwhile, JT Poston finishes with a par and is five under today, -10 overall and tied fourth at time of writing after his best round.

    Tommy Fleetwood has been talking to Sky Sports: "It was a great day. I had to battle yesterday, but I had a good back nine to give myself a chance of playing through the weekend. I got off to a fast start today and kept it going, played well all day.

    "I had a terrible time with the greens on Thursday. I missed two or three putts and couldn't find the line. It's progressively gotten better. Today, I felt like I holed my fair share."

    "The leaders still have a few holes to play and we'll see what happens with the weather. It's nice to be somewhere near contention."