Tommy Fleetwood elicited the biggest roar of the week at Royal Birkdale as the hometown hero holed a monster putt at the first to heighten his hopes of winning The Open.
The Southport golfer, wearing Tiger Woods’ clothing brand, rolled in a 73-foot birdie from the front of the green to ignite a packed gallery willing the 35-year-old Everton fan to victory.
On Saturday said he hoped to ride the wave of support but needed to give them something to shout about and he delivered on that promise from the off.
It lifted him to six under par, four off the lead of Sam Burns who was out four groups behind him, as he sought to become the first Englishman since Sir Nick Faldo in 1992 to win the Claret Jug.
But the serious move was made by Cameron Young, winner of this year’s Players Championship at the expense of Matt Fitzpatrick, who reached the turn in 29 at eight under with five birdies.
Ominously world number one Scottie Scheffler appeared to have found his form as his name loomed into view on the leaderboard.
Burns’ best friend birdied three of his first five holes – and it could have been four – with his iron play helping eliminate this week’s putting woes as the longest he holed from was just outside four feet.
He moved to seven under alongside Russell Henley, who was six under for 15 holes.
Masters champion Rory McIlroy was having no such luck as he struggled to generate any momentum.
The Northern Irishman had two birdies in his first six holes but a bogey at the short par-three seventh halted his progress and a birdie-bogey start to his back nine left him three under and with far too much to do to force himself into contention.
Two-time major winner Jon Rahm, starting the day four under and in with a chance, went out of bounds on the first for the second successive day to effectively end his hopes of a charge after one shot.
Playing partner Shane Lowry bogeyed the first but then produced back-to-back birdies, holing a bunker shot at the par-three fourth, to get to five under and poised to make a move.
