Rory McIlroy, Viktor Hovland lead British Open by four strokes

Jul 15, 2022; St. Andrews, SCT; Rory McIlroy watches a shot on the 15th hole during the second round of the 150th Open Championship golf tournament at St. Andrews Old Course. Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY Sports

Rory McIlroy, Viktor Hovland lead British Open field by four strokes after three rounds

By Adam Stites | Last updated 7/16/22

Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy and Norway's Viktor Hovland finished with matching six-under-par scorecards on Saturday in the third round of The Open Championship to take a four-stroke lead into the final day of the tournament.

McIlroy, 33, won The Open by six strokes in 2014 and won the PGA Championship later that year, but hasn't won a major since. He finished top 10 in the first three majors of 2022, including a second-place finish at the Masters.

On Saturday, he hit five birdies, one bogey and holed out from the bunker for an eagle on the 10th hole.

Rory. McIlroy.#The150thOpen pic.twitter.com/ZgVKfXf8ie
— The Open (@TheOpen) July 16, 2022

Hovland, 24, has never finished top 10 at a major. On Saturday, he finished with a par or birdie on all 18 holes and stringed together four consecutive birdies on holes three through six.

Hovland to the top of the leaderboard He joins Cam Smith on -12#The150thOpen pic.twitter.com/ho8hUceATh
— The Open (@TheOpen) July 16, 2022

Both McIlroy and Hovland have two 66 rounds and a 68 round for an even 200 through three days. Cameron Smith and Cameron Young, who were atop the leaderboard after the second round, are at 204 heading into Sunday.

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