RORY MCILROY STRUGGLED in a third round left unfinished as play was suspended because of fog at the Scottish Open on Saturday.
McIlroy, who completed a career Grand Slam of major titles at the US Masters in April, had been among the leaders overnight but fell to six-under as fog disrupted the entire day’s play.
The world number two was out of sorts after a long delay. Three bogeys in his eight completed holes left him trailing England’s Matt Fitzpatrick and American Michael Thorbjornsen, who were both on 11-under par when play was suspended for the night.
Fitzpatrick made a strong start with four birdies in seven holes lifting him to 12-under-par.
A bogey immediately followed on eight, which was to be the Englishman’s final hole of the day.
Thorbjornsen hit five birdies in 13 holes.
Johnny Keefer was the clubhouse leader at 10-under. He was tied with fellow Americans Wyndham Clark, Chris Gotterup and Kevin Roy, Australian Min Woo Lee and English overnight co-leader Jordan Smith, who all had holes still to complete.
Keefer had a single dropped shot and seven birdies in his 64.
US Open champion Clark made four birdies in his 15 holes, with defending champion Gotterup chalking up three in his 10.
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The event at the Renaissance Club in North Berwick, east of Edinburgh, is played on a links — or coastal course — as is the British Open.
The 154th edition of golf’s oldest major championship takes place next week at Royal Birkdale near Liverpool.
Meanwhile, Ryu Hae-ran put herself in position to win a second women’s major this season as she blazed a spectacular third-round 60 on Saturday for a two-shot lead at the Evian Championship.
Akie Iwai of Japan shot a 65 to take a firm grip on second, four ahead of compatriot Mao Saigo, who had a 67, and Canadian Brooke Henderson who made 64.
Overnight leader Lottie Woad finished with a one-over par 72 to drop into a tie for sixth, nine shots off the lead.
Ryu made an eagle on the sixth and recorded her ninth birdie of the round on the last hole, where she took two putts.
She said she had not realised when she lined up her first putt that she was in position to shoot a 59.
“I never know because I don’t know here is par 71. That’s why I just hit it,” she said. “But after the putt and I counted my score with my caddie, ‘Oh, my God, it’s 11-under par today!’
“My caddie says ‘yep!’. Yeah, I’m so happy right now.”
Her 60 was a record low round for the Evian and the lowest in any of the five women’s majors since the USLPGA started tracking rounds of 60.
The 25-year-old won the Women’s PGA at Hazeltine in June for her first major title and said that had changed her attitude.
“I really wanted to get the major championships, but before I got that one it was so stressful,” she said.
“I can enjoy golf more right now. When we first started this tournament, the press conference I said my goal is just to play on the weekend. That’s it.
“It feels like a dream again.”
Ryu’s playing partners, Iwai and Woad, were impressed.
“She’s on fire,” said Iwai while Woad, who played with her in the opening two rounds, described her as “fun to watch”.
Iwai said she was on a mission after missing the cut last year.
“I want revenge,” she said. “Really optimistic for tomorrow. I just keep going.”
Henderson chipped in twice for eagles.
“Definitely a bonus to be able to chip in on two par-5s today, two eagles. Definitely helps out the scorecard a lot, and momentum, too,” she said.
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Scottish Open suspended due to fog as McIlroy slips off lead
Updated at 22.55
RORY MCILROY STRUGGLED in a third round left unfinished as play was suspended because of fog at the Scottish Open on Saturday.
McIlroy, who completed a career Grand Slam of major titles at the US Masters in April, had been among the leaders overnight but fell to six-under as fog disrupted the entire day’s play.
The world number two was out of sorts after a long delay. Three bogeys in his eight completed holes left him trailing England’s Matt Fitzpatrick and American Michael Thorbjornsen, who were both on 11-under par when play was suspended for the night.
Fitzpatrick made a strong start with four birdies in seven holes lifting him to 12-under-par.
A bogey immediately followed on eight, which was to be the Englishman’s final hole of the day.
Thorbjornsen hit five birdies in 13 holes.
Johnny Keefer was the clubhouse leader at 10-under. He was tied with fellow Americans Wyndham Clark, Chris Gotterup and Kevin Roy, Australian Min Woo Lee and English overnight co-leader Jordan Smith, who all had holes still to complete.
Keefer had a single dropped shot and seven birdies in his 64.
US Open champion Clark made four birdies in his 15 holes, with defending champion Gotterup chalking up three in his 10.
The event at the Renaissance Club in North Berwick, east of Edinburgh, is played on a links — or coastal course — as is the British Open.
The 154th edition of golf’s oldest major championship takes place next week at Royal Birkdale near Liverpool.
Meanwhile, Ryu Hae-ran put herself in position to win a second women’s major this season as she blazed a spectacular third-round 60 on Saturday for a two-shot lead at the Evian Championship.
Akie Iwai of Japan shot a 65 to take a firm grip on second, four ahead of compatriot Mao Saigo, who had a 67, and Canadian Brooke Henderson who made 64.
Overnight leader Lottie Woad finished with a one-over par 72 to drop into a tie for sixth, nine shots off the lead.
Ryu made an eagle on the sixth and recorded her ninth birdie of the round on the last hole, where she took two putts.
She said she had not realised when she lined up her first putt that she was in position to shoot a 59.
“I never know because I don’t know here is par 71. That’s why I just hit it,” she said. “But after the putt and I counted my score with my caddie, ‘Oh, my God, it’s 11-under par today!’
“My caddie says ‘yep!’. Yeah, I’m so happy right now.”
Her 60 was a record low round for the Evian and the lowest in any of the five women’s majors since the USLPGA started tracking rounds of 60.
The 25-year-old won the Women’s PGA at Hazeltine in June for her first major title and said that had changed her attitude.
“I really wanted to get the major championships, but before I got that one it was so stressful,” she said.
“I can enjoy golf more right now. When we first started this tournament, the press conference I said my goal is just to play on the weekend. That’s it.
“It feels like a dream again.”
Ryu’s playing partners, Iwai and Woad, were impressed.
“She’s on fire,” said Iwai while Woad, who played with her in the opening two rounds, described her as “fun to watch”.
Iwai said she was on a mission after missing the cut last year.
“I want revenge,” she said. “Really optimistic for tomorrow. I just keep going.”
Henderson chipped in twice for eagles.
“Definitely a bonus to be able to chip in on two par-5s today, two eagles. Definitely helps out the scorecard a lot, and momentum, too,” she said.
– © AFP 2026
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