Day three of major championships have come to be known as 'moving day'. It is the day where players aim to position themselves for a tilt at the title - in this case the Claret Jug - come Sunday. For players who have just made the cut, a mid-table position is often the target whereas, for those nearer the top, consolidation is usually the key.
Day three at the 140th Open Championship was poised for just this. Following the cut, the field was separated by just seven strokes and despite the departure of many big names that included the top two players in the world; Luke Donald and Lee Westwood - there was still plenty of talent remaining.
Darren Clarke and Lucas Glover held a share of the overnight lead at four under par and thus would be paired together in the 36th and final game of the day. Tee times became performance ordered for the first time in the tournament and the three balls were whittled down to two balls.
Morning Misery
The weather - as had been forecasted - was set to play a major role in the outcome of the day's events. The forecast was for strong winds and heavy rain in the morning before clearing up at around 4pm.
This proved to be the case and morning conditions were nothing short of horrific. Whilst it was hoped that someone from the tightly clustered field could mount a challenge from off the pace, it was very quickly realised that this was not going to happen.
America's Gary Woodland - who had looked certain to miss the cut after being seven over par at one stage on Friday - played an incredible front nine, in the 20mph winds and driving rain, to register a two under par 33 for the opening nine holes. However, two successive bogeys and then a triple bogey eight on 14 quickly reversed his momentum as he eventually finished with a - still very respectable - 74.
Tom Watson was another who seemed to thrive in the early conditions as he made his way around the Royal St. George's links in a very reputable 72. It appeared that Watson - on four over par - could be handily placed by the end of the day, as all around him were succumbing to the deteriorating weather. The shere difficulty of the playing conditions was demonstrated by Frenchman Gregory Havret, who recorded a ten on the par five 14th. At one stage the par five fourteenth was averaging a staggering score of 6.67.
A Game of Two Halves
Many eyes were on Rory McIlroy the pre-tournament favourite following his astonishing romp to US Open glory. Many commentators - including the BBC's Jim Nantz - were expecting big things of the Northern Irishman over the weekend.
Paired with flamboyant American Rickie Fowler - the subject of a thought provoking music video - for the third successive day, he suffered a slow start with bogeys on the first and third holes. Fowler however, was the epitome of control and concentration as he steadily made his way around the links, recording a level par 35 on the front nine. This was a truly admirable feat given the conditions.
At this point, the leading duo of Clarke and Glover had made their way onto the first tee to be greeted by ear-splitting cries of: "Come on Darren!" from the onlooking gallery.
Clarke seemed buoyed by the support as he recorded the first and only birdie of the day on the first hole to take him into the outright lead at five under par.
By the time the pair had reached the fourth tee, the rain had died to a mere drizzle whilst the wind had also relented. Scores around the course were subsequently improving and birdies started appearing at holes, not just at the par five seventh.
Only Phil Mickelson, Anthony Kim and Rickie Fowler took real advantage of the improving conditions however; probably testament to their strength of character.
Mickelson had recorded three bogeys over the first six holes but stayed composed, recovering to a one over par 71 by the end of his round, positioning himself usefully on even par for the tournament.
Kim found himself four over par for his round through eight holes but remarkably claimed all four shots back after playing conditions improved to post a level par 70 and like Mickelson, level par for the tournament.
Fowler too began to make headway. His solid front nine performance was built upon percentage plays and excellent putting that provided the base for his assault on the back nine once the weather had relented. He carded three birdies in four holes from the 13th to post an excellent round of 68 - equal best for the day.
Front Running
Meanwhile, those out in the final groups were looking to take full advantage of the vastly improving weather conditions.
Clarke had seen birdie opportunities at the second and fourth holes go begging due to a couple of woeful putts, however; none of his nearest challengers looked like stringing the required birdies together to mount a serious attack.
For much of the day Clarke chopped and changed between four and five under par, the latter of which would be his eventual finishing score as he remained in the lead from start to finish.
His playing partner - Lucas Glover - was playing excellently from tee to green but was missing some seemingly unmissable short putts; it appeared Clarke's disease was catching! The American's efforts on the greens were beginning to take their toll as he became increasingly frustrated with every passing hole - despite the talkative and friendly exchanges he regularly shared with Clarke.
The pairing of Martin Kaymer and Chad Campbell - who had started the day one shot off the lead - suffered disappointing rounds as Kaymer recorded a three over par 73 to take him back to level par for the tournament, while Campbell went one shot worse to finish in the black numbers.
Opening round leader, Thomas Bjorn and Miguel Angel Jimenez - who started just one shot off the lead - also struggled. Jimenez was particularly unlucky as he saw a series of top-drawer putts from distance go close throughout the day, leaving the Spaniard birdieless.
Bjorn on the other hand, battled away for two birdies, three bogeys and a frustrating run of nine straight pars. He would post a 71 to leave himself three strokes shy of the lead by the close of play.
The only challenge to Clarke's supremacy came late on in the form of big-hitting American, Dustin Johnson. The man from South Carolina carded six birdies and four bogeys to record the joint lowest round of the day - a 68. However, it was not a patch on Fowler's brilliance.
Johnson would eventually finish on four under par for the tournament, leaving him just one shot behind Darren Clarke, thus meaning they would be the final pairing on Sunday.
Reflection
A total of 18 players began the day under par; only six would hold this achievement by its end as conditions, until approximately 4pm, were positively brutal.
The defending champion, a rain-sodden Louis Oosthuizen told the BBC following his round of 74: "It is probably the toughest weather I have played golf in... It was just so wet!"
The former US Open winner and victim of the cut, Graeme McDowell tweeted: "On the couch with a cup of tea and a choccie Hob Nob and the golf on. Would love to be out there. Looks brutal. Won't win it sitting here!!"
Despite the weather ending any hope of a charge from within the pack, day three has provided an excellent platform for tomorrows raid on the R&A trophy cabinet. The likeable and much loved figure of Darren Clarke is a surprise leader whilst the likes of Phil Mickelson, Martin Kaymer and Anthony Kim are well positioned five shots back.
With the exciting prospects of Dustin Johnson and Rickie Fowler also in the mix, Sunday is set to be an intriguing and fascinating spectacle.
Thomas Fleming - Hello! I am Tom, a student of BSc Transport and Business Management at Loughborough University in the UK. I have always possessed great ...
