Low scores were available throughout the day on Saturday for seemingly everyone but Cameron Smith, the leader. The Australian just couldn't get anything going from the very start as he bogeyed the opening hole and gave up the lead early in the round as others took advantage of mostly calm conditions at The Old Course.
Viktor Hovland and Rory McIlroy had no issues putting strong rounds together in the late afternoon as they both fired 6-under 66s. They'll pair up again, this time from the last group, as they look to battle for a coveted Claret Jug on the most historic course in golf. They'll go into the final round tied for the lead and holding a four-shot edge over the final pair from the third round.
It seems like a two horse race going into Sunday from St. Andrews, but I feel certain there will be points in the round that other players will be in the mix. I'll still take my first shot up top, though I'll still have an eye on the chasers.
Best Bets
Rory McIlroy: -110 (BetMGM)
Frankly, it's time. It is time for McIlroy to be back on top in a major championship and he talked on Saturday evening from St. Andrews about how much this one in particular would mean to him. He is a guy who values the history of golf and at this course, in the 150th version of the Open, it would be a special win for him and the game.
McIlroy has played in control all week and it always seemed like his name would be near the top as we approached Sunday. He is in position to get it done and if I'm putting money on either of those two leaders it's McIlroy, in part because of his play and also it just seems like a bit of a storybook ending.
Scottie Scheffler: +2200 (PointsBet)
Two of the first three stroke-play wins that Scheffler posted this season happened because he came from behind on Saturday and Sunday. He just seems to have a knack for putting together low rounds in the biggest moments to make a move up the leaderboard. He is the player who makes the most sense for me to take as a longshot, coming from five strokes back going into the final round. He has shown some great form this week, but seems to have fallen short of capitalizing on some of those opportunities. If he can just get some of those chances to fall on Sunday, he could be in the mix if the leaders stumble.
Bryson DeChambeau: Top 10 +600 (DraftKings)
Part of the deal with DeChambeau is that we will get brilliance at times and also some of the most wayward shots you will see from a professional golfer. We got both during the round on Saturday as he had both eagles and shots that ended multiple fairways off line. I'll still go back to him on Sunday, especially in a DFS setting where birdies are king, but also for the potential to see him hold it together for a top-10 finish. I think there is a little too much value on DeChambeau at DraftKings and that's where I'll take a shot at +600 that he can erase the three-shot deficit between him and a finish inside the top 10.
