Sam Burns grabs two-shot Open lead at Royal Birkdale
Burns shot a third-round 65 to reach 10 under, with Ryan Fox and Si Woo Kim chasing at the Open Championship.
By Deshawn Carter · Sports Writer
3 min read
Sam Burns is one round from a first major title at an Open Championship he nearly skipped.
Burns shot a 5-under 65 on Saturday at Royal Birkdale in Southport, England, according to ESPN News Services, moving to 10-under 200 and taking a two-shot lead into the final round.
The American backed up a record-tying 62 with another low round, this time while paired with Bryson DeChambeau, whose gallery energy and recent rules controversy made for a loud walk around Birkdale.
ESPN’s leaderboard showed Burns ahead of New Zealand’s Ryan Fox and South Korea’s Si Woo Kim, who were tied for second at 8 under. Kim carded a 67, while Fox ripped through the course with a 62, joining the list of players who matched the major championship scoring record this week.
Fox, who began the day at even par, played his way into Sunday’s final group and a chance at his first major. “The game plan was to be aggressive,” Fox said, according to ESPN News Services. “I was aggressive on a lot of good wedge shots. Pretty happy with 62 at the end.”
Burns did not expect to be here
The backstory gives Burns’ lead a sharper edge. His wife, Caroline, had been due to give birth during the week of the British Open, and ESPN News Services reported that Burns had not originally planned on making the trip from Louisiana.
Caroline gave birth to their daughter, Belle, on July 3. A week before the tournament, Burns decided to play.
“To be able to come here was a bonus,” Burns said, according to ESPN News Services. “I didn't think there was anyway possible. It will be a great challenge tomorrow. No matter what happens, I can live with the results.”
Burns has already been close in majors. ESPN News Services noted he missed a 17-foot putt that would have forced a playoff at last month’s U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills. He also led after 54 holes at last year’s U.S. Open at Oakmont, where wet fairways hurt him on two important shots.
DeChambeau still lurking
DeChambeau, a two-time U.S. Open champion, remains in the hunt despite closing with a bogey. ESPN News Services reported he made two late birdies, shot 69 and finished the round four shots behind Burns at 6 under.
A day earlier, DeChambeau had protested a two-shot penalty for improving the area of his swing, according to ESPN News Services. On Saturday, he played in front of a crowd that gave him heavy support.
He is also the only major winner among the top 10 players on the leaderboard going into Sunday, according to ESPN News Services.
Behind the top three, ESPN’s leaderboard listed Ryan Gerard and Lucas Herbert tied for fourth at 7 under. Ludvig Åberg, DeChambeau and Jackson Suber were tied for sixth at 6 under.
Local favorite Tommy Fleetwood, from Southport, shot 69 and sat five shots off the lead at 5 under. Defending champion Scottie Scheffler shot 70 and was six behind at 4 under after another day of trouble on the greens, according to ESPN News Services.
This story draws on original reporting from ESPN.com.