Winners and losers from Saturday’s Open Championship

They say the Open Championship doesn’t start until you get your time on Saturday (no one says this), but thanks to a series of unusual Bryson DeChambeau-related events, it took longer this time.

But once things started happening, they kept happening. Here’s a mix of good and bad from round three at Royal Birkdale.

PLAYER: Game 9

That would be the ninth hour of the day, two past one Xander Schauffele again Ryan Fox, who combined for 15 birdies in the morning with the Birkdale beatdown. Schauffele shot a four-under 66 that has become his standard weekend charge at a major tournament — and he’s still four behind Fox, who shot 62 for the third time this week and just eighth in major history.

“I was just trying to jump on whatever wave he was riding as best I could,” Schauffele said. He is now T11, right where he lives.

“I feel really good, to be honest,” added Fox. I would hope so.

LOSER: Fleetwood’s finish

Most of the time until Saturday afternoon, Photo by Tommy Fleetwood the case of dreaming was officially open; The Southport hometown prince was three under in his round, seven under in his tournament, and one shot out of the lead. But he ran out of mojo down the stretch, failing to birdie or par 5 for home and making bogeys at 15 and 18. He’s not out of it at five under par yet – but it’s an incredibly tall hill to climb.

(But always a winner: Fleetwood’s attitude.)

WINNER: Rory vs. Bryson

All day Saturday, different players and statisticians were struggling Bryson DeChambeau’s Friday night penalty. Mostly, they walked a tightrope, suggesting that he had been brave without making a direct accusation. Max Homa felt that the decision was harsh and that DeChambeau “deserved to be frustrated”; Shane Lowry saw fit and “golf rules” but didn’t want to say much; while Schauffele added, “I don’t know, to be honest.”

According to Rory McIlroy? He didn’t hold back.

In his first response:

“I was watching it live. I was up in the players’ lounge watching it with a few other players, and as soon as he took a step on the ball, we all looked at each other, and I said, ‘That didn’t seem right.’

“Then when I heard that he was called by the law enforcement officers, I think all of us – it was pretty obvious why. Yeah, I think there’s no doubt that he stepped up the line of his retreat. And, it’s like, whether it was reckless or intentional, I don’t think it matters. I hope it was reckless, but I think a double penalty is just warranted.”

DeChambeau’s evening rules review:

“It’s a late night for everybody. Yeah, look, I’m not going to pretend I’m up here and defending Bryson. I don’t like him very much. I think a lot of it is played out. I think a lot of it is for attention.

“Hosting a tournament like that, and having all of us, the players, the volunteers, everyone waiting for him to go, I didn’t think it was a good look.”

This rivalry is real. Includes LIV vs. PGA Tour, Pinehurst in 2024, Augusta National in 2025, crypto dot com Showdown, etc. It is clear that they like to compete with each other. And now it’s abundantly clear that McIlroy “doesn’t particularly like” the Big Golfer. I tend to roll my eyes when people say things are “good for golf,” so I’ll just say this rivalry is good for me and my enjoyment of these two great golfers and charming characters.

WINNER: Bryson’s putter (mostly)

DeChambeau got off to an uneventful start with a bogey on No. But he rolled in a series of checks on the following holes: a six-foot par on No. 10, an 11-foot par on No. 12, a six-foot par on No. 13, and a top-and-bottom par on No. 14, a seven-foot birdie on No. It should be noted that I wrote this just before he left the nine foot short at No. 18.

He’ll start Sunday at T6 in the six-under division — with no other previous major winners joining him in the top 10.

LOSER: Scottie’s putter

If the World No. 1 do ridiculous fist pumps, you have a good sense of where things stand.

Time will tell if they were planning to return on Sunday.

WINNER: Burns goes back

We here at Winners and Losers HQ would like to congratulate Burns on being named the Open Three Quarters Champion.

Which is, obviously, not the real thing, but it’s worth shouting out how impressive it is that Burns has gotten this far. He’s coming off of the US Open hurting, and last year’s US Open – not to mention the birth of his daughter last week and the fact that he didn’t expect to be here. Burns is 10 under, leads by two and his chasing pack is not particularly experienced. You are standing well.

Now comes the hard part.

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