THE Scottish Open is a big deal to Sweden's Ludvig Aberg, though he's not likely to be the crowd favorite for the final round.
Aberg briefly surrendered the lead before posting 5-under-par 65 to finish Saturday's third round with a two-shot lead at North Berwick, Scotland.
"It's fun to have an opportunity to win a golf tournament, especially at a classic place here in Scotland," Aberg said.
Aberg is at 17-under, two shots ahead of Scotland native Robert MacIntyre, who fired a 7-under 63.
"I've not been shy in saying it: The Scottish Open is the one I want," MacIntyre said.
Aberg wants it as well.
"Looking forward to it a lot. It will be fun," Aberg said. "Looks like I'm playing with Bob as well, so it will be a cool pairing and looking forward to it."
Australia's Adam Scott shot 64 and is at 14 under in third place.
Sahith Theegala (66 on Saturday), Collin Morikawa (66), France's Antoine Rozner (68) and South Korea's Sungjae Im (67) are tied for fourth at 13 under. Rozner began the day one shot off the lead.
Golfers had to contend with some rainy conditions at The Renaissance Club after what were hailed as ideal conditions a day earlier.
Defending champion Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland shot 67 to move to 12 under. He is in his first tournament since last month's late-round struggles on the final day of the U.S. Open, where he finished as runner-up.
"You get off to a good start, and you sort of try to ride that momentum," McIlroy said. "I didn't get off to quite as fast of a start on the front nine as did I (Friday). But that's sort of what I'm going to need (Sunday).
McIlroy, aiming to be the first back-to-back winner in the tournament's history, dropped a stroke on the final hole when he took a bogey, chipping from one side of the green and off the surface to the other side before recovering to prevent further damage.
Aberg went 3 under across the first nine to share the lead with MacIntyre. Aberg had consecutive bogeys on Nos. 11 and 12, including a three-putt bogey on the par-3 12th that created a temporary two-shot advantage for MacIntyre.
Aberg recovered to birdie No. 13.
"Not the most stress-free golf, but it was again a good score," Aberg said. "But I'm pleased with the way I hung in there and finished it out."
Following a front-nine 30 that included an eagle on the par-4 fifth hole, MacIntyre took the lead briefly after birdies on Nos. 10 and 11. He tried to scramble on No. 18, hitting an approach shot from the rough. But he ended up needing three putts from nearly 90 feet, so the bogey reduced his lead before Aberg overtook him.
"The last is a difficult hole, whether it's flat calm, downwind, into the wind," MacIntyre said. "It's difficult, and when they put the pin up that top shelf, it makes it even harder. Overall, I played absolutely brilliantly."
Scott said he benefited from playing alongside MacIntyre.
"Trying to hang on to his coattails while he was running hot was good fun," Scott said.
MacIntyre, who was this tournament's 2023 runner-up, won the Canadian Open on June 2 for his first PGA Tour title.
The Scottish Open is the first of two tournaments co-sanctioned by the PGA Tour and European Tour.
Rozner was aided by an eagle from 190 yards away on the par-4 seventh hole.
Along with McIlroy, South Africa's Erik van Rooyen (64) and Italy's Matt Matteo Manassero (68) are lurking at 12 under. — REUTERS