12/07/2014 Golf: Scottish Open

Bit Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open has become a very

important part are links golf fortnight in the men's event coming

before the open 's championship at Hoylake this year. No fewer than 24

the top 60 in the world have beaten the path to the Granite city of

Aberdeen trying to win one of the great titles in the home of golf,

Scotland, and trying to find during their links form and, for three of

them, the chance to claim the last remaining spots in the open itself.

For the last three years the men who have lifted the Claret jug have all

featured strongly in the Scottish Open. Phil Mickelson winning

back-to-back titles last year. The event this year and Aberdeen was

dominated by Rory McIlroy, whose tribulations and trials, and

opening-day 64 followed by a 78. So the young man from Northern Ireland

would find themselves some six shots off the pace coming into round

three. This is how the leaderboard looks.

Three players on 6-under par. Justin Rose is just one shot off the pace.

Let's enjoy around three in the company of our commentary team.

Some great conditions today. Phil Mickelson. He just had a birdie and

an eagle to get him to two on the for the day. -- 2-under. Only three

behind. So many things can happen today. Robert Karlsson and Rory

Mcilroy playing together on the 13th. Robert Karlsson back playing

in Europe. He was forced last week in France. He has had a couple of

top-10 finishes recently. Coming into some very good form. And the

leaderboard proves that. Probably had the best back-to-back weeks of

his career this time last year when he won this championship at Castle

Stuart in Inverness, followed by winning the opener at Muirfield. He

is a man of many talents. He goes for birdie on nine. That's OK.

3-under for the championship, only three behind. Back to Robert

Karlsson at 13. Magnificent putt from Robert

Karlsson. That puts 6-under, tied at the top. The former European number

one. Luke Donald dropped a shot at the first and is now at the par-5

second hole. Not the longest hitter in the green

but even he makes the green in two shots downwind.

Three birdies and no bogeys so far. That is an excellent shot. The man

named after Tom Watson. This, for an eagle at the second from the Donald.

Back to the first green, Shane Lowry, to convert the birdie. It is

almost a bonus if you can get a birdie on this first hole because

you then have the downwind par-5 second coming up. What they start

for Shane Lowry. That was only the second birdie of the day at the

opening hole. It is the hardest hole on the course, the first. This is

Robert Karlsson's fourth shot, the second, left of the green. This was

not easy. He has played it well, but that will be for a bogey, the

tournament leader, one of four. Lewis looking to get to 4-under for

the day and that there is a great putt from Tom Lewis, getting 5-under

par, one shot behind. The thing about moving day is that you can

move in two directions, up and down. And Robert Karlsson, having just got

into a share of the lead immediately drops back out again. And then there

were three. Marc Warren, Kristoffer Broberg and Ricardo Gonzalez out on

their own, Tom Lewis climbing to within one shot. Craig Lee going

well, the Scot. This is for birdie. It should break at the end. That is

an excellent start. That is incredible. 4-under and he has only

had four birdies. That is very steady golf on a links course. He is

earlier in round three than he would normally be and would want to be but

that is a wonderful shot from Rory. That was a huge drive. Just flipping

that onto the green. Rickie Fowler with a lovely pics to 12, the par-5.

-- lovely pitch. Ladies and gentlemen this is the

final game this afternoon. From Scotland, Marc Warren. I enjoy Marc

Warren. He is an up and down sort of layer. -- player. Just look at this

wonderfully fluent swing. It looks like nothing more than a 6-iron,

here. That could be an eight. Which of course, these days, is like a

six. The beautiful par-3/17. The Potter in hand for Robert Karlsson.

It was the first time they have used the top tier all week on this par-3

hole. Marc Warren with rounds of 67 and 69, with a slightly better

angle. He can at least hit this more into the breeze. He has 165 to the

front and you can and another 26 paces to that. 190-old yardstick go.

-- 190-odd yards to go. What a cracker.

All is about, into the final hole today. -- Olazabal. 558 yards,

par-5, and going with an iron. It is a very narrow hole. I would always

hate to do this. Look at that bounding along. He has got into

safety. I would rather go with a driver. 409 metres this hole,

crosswind from the right, this for a birdie, and the outright lead. We

have just had four Brodie is at the opening hole. None better than that.

-- four birdies. Just over 190 yards to go. Gorgeous second shot, well

done. It is fun when it described well. The par-5 second hole.

Gonzales can hit the lead. A double bogey on 18 last night at about

quarter to nine. That is a cracking shot. He might just get the lead

back. Don't hurry, honey. Tyrell Hatton with a chance for a birdie at

the fifth. And a home run. Right in the middle. He has made a couple of

good putts today. He should smile after that. It is all fun when it is

going well. The par-5 second hole. There is nothing in this putt.

Slightly downhill. Well done, lovely eagle. You have

got to try and not make the putts too important. You have got to try

and treat them the same way. A lot of good shots today. Six at 14. That

hurt his cause. Out on 31, still, 67, a fine round. A good group to

have gone out earlier with, and now, he can wander around with the

leaders. He knows it, too. The Friday blues for Rory Mcilroy. Just

flying at over 200 yards. Gonzalez, hitting it. The hole is 20 paces

from the front. That just skipped through. David Howell, with his back

to us. This, for two, a great one to take. Right in the middle once

again. He is fun to watch on the green. Very simple method, but very

effective. The birdie putt of Phil Mickelson at 13. Yes, well done. He

has worked very hard and stuck in. It has been a good week for Phil

Mickelson. It has forced them to focus on the shop in hand. An

amazing eagle at the second for Ricardo Gonzalez. It could be a good

week for Argentina, with the World Cup final. Robert Karlsson has aimed

this a long way to the left, trying to use the bank. Lovely line, the

speed is good. I would imagine about five feet nine, hold it nicely, then

about four feet to the second where he made the eagle. 446 yards, this

par for all. -- this par for all. Tyrell Hatton had made a wonderful

start. He has an eagle opportunity at the par-5 sixth hole.

Three birdies in the first six holes. This is for par on three, it

looks dead straight. And it is, well done, good save from Ricardo,

staying at 8-under. David Howell found a bunker. I think that just

ran into the bunker. This is Tyrell Hatton at the eighth hole. He's

having a great day. Although that is a terrible one for him. One of the

unmentionables. That was a good effort. Just again,

much more steam, and it might have held its line. The first bogey of

the day for David Howell who goes back to 5-under, 1-under for the

day. This is Marc Warren, the tournament leader, in great shape. A

little right. That is a good shot. You can see all

of the slopes before the pin, it is downhill and downwind, everything to

the pin, so you cannot really get close.

He has a downslope, short of the green, letting it bounce up, if it

comes off the bank, it is going to be perfect. Magnificent shot.

Excellent shot, for eagle. Using all of the contours. He is a strong

player. He had a good win in Ireland a couple of weeks ago in the Irish

open. That is going to happen a lot in

your career. Just knocking it in with one hand, modularity, until you

miss one, and then you ever do it again. -- nonchalantly. As it was

yesterday, the fifth hole can be driven. It is a narrow fairway to

land it in but if they land it in, it can be drove through the front

bunker, so Gonzales certainly can without any trouble at all.

That is too far right, maybe? What abounds. -- what a bounce. That is a

fantastic shot. 3-wood to the middle of the green. Chance for an eagle.

This is a funny putt. If you start it left it would go right, if you

start it right, it would go there. He is aiming a little bit right.

That would have been some two, but it will be another birdie for our

leader. After a fantastic second, this foreign eagle, they gap to

6-under. Just a little break from right-to-left. You cannot stop

there. This, for birdie. It is 9-under.

Very good. Excellent stuff. Great start for Gonzales, going to 9-under

par, one clear of Marc Warren. This is Craig Lee, for the birdie at 15.

Getting to 7-under. Not quite. Twice a run-up, Craig Lee, on the tool,

the European Masters. I'm sure that a win is not far away. A very good

player, Craig. He has played well down in South Africa. It is always

good to have him at the events that are played in South Africa. David

Howell, with a 7-iron, his second shot to the par-5. That is grand.

This is a must-make putt for Phil Mickelson. He pushed it. Straight

away. So, a birdie is a birdie. Craig Lee

for them -- from the bunker at 16. Nicely played. The 37-year-old Scot.

He has this one to pick up a couple of shots. He is going to come from

the right. Wonderful putt from Justin Rose. Birdie, for the

Englishman. That was well hold, keeping the speed up. 5-under. That

is one of the better ones out there today. Gonzales at 9-under. Craig

Lee, David Howell and Justin Rose up there. And a splendid 66 for the

Spaniard, Larrazabal are. Just a little bit of movement to the left

of the player and then these two enormous bunkers, you must stay out

of those. Most players have. Playing down the breeze, a big bounce that

you have two allow for. It kicked in the right direction. This is

perfect. This agreement is protected by

bunkers, to the left and right, but they are not so bad today. You must

plan where the bounce is going to come from, pitch this about 30 yards

short. Good swing of the club. Throwing it up there are little

more. Another wonderful shot. He has always been a good striker of the

ball, Marc Warren. Coached by Sam Torrance's father, Bob Torrance. The

fundamentals are good. Look at the putting stroke of Justin Rose. This

coming from about half a cup outside right, perfect. That is a big miss

from short range. On a windy day, you have got to give

yourself as many opportunities as you can, and take advantage of a few

more. The birdies are going to be harder to come by on the way in for

Justin Rose. Shane Lowry. Great shot. There is a little shelf there.

The ball was pitched just on top of it. This is egg for Broberg, and

eagle opportunity at the sixth hole. -- this is big. He looks at the

caddy as if to say, can you believe that? He is even through his first

six today, back to where he started. A good chance for Marc Warren. He is

a streaky putter, Marc Warren. Different swing to his left. He

knows that were slightly over hit. Just watch this at from full

Mickelson here. He does not want to bogey it again. That has been the

story of his year. He played well on Thursday and missed a putt of

similar length for the bogey. Marc Warren very close, there. He

has had a little bit of time and it has gone back in the last couple of

years. I'd love to see win this and making the Ryder Cup. We mustn't get

too far ahead of ourselves as Broberg goes for birdie. How things

change. Marc Warren looking to make it to 10-under par.

It is a wonderful leader board. And it is impossible to pick a winner.

It is the only hole on the front nine that you play back into the

breeze. Just make that quick adjustment. The ball further back in

the stance. He has hit some good shots but that is the best one he

has hit so far, this front side. Looking good for three in a row for

the Swede. Hopefully the final putt of this third round for Craig Lee.

He lost in a play-off at the European Masters to Thomas Bjorn

last year. Shot a 61 in round three. That is a very welcome return to top

form for the Scot. Have you ever tried that, Sam? I have, actually,

but it was off the back of a boat. Similar thing. It looks peaceful. It

was. Here is a man who has suddenly got it going, young Christopher

Broberg from Sweden. A player still looking for his first

win. This would be one heck of a par

save. This is downhill, right-to-left, and back into the

wind. Good try. You cannot fault with stroke there. It is a nice

breeze today, that is probably the best way to describe it, just a good

test. The leaders in double figures. Marc Warren, this goes down, he

narrows the gap. Watch out for this young man, Tyrrell Hatton. He must

be in contention for the Rookie of the year title. There seems to be a

lot of pressure on the players now on either side of the -- on the

other side of the Atlantic. First drop shot. Dropping two behind

now, Marc Warren. Back to Justin Rose. This is a pill, it should

break a little bit from his left. -- this is uphill. Probably influenced

by the shoulder of the bunker to his right. APPLAUSE

He sinks another one, the youngster, Tyrrell Hatton. They were just

pumping out players a decade ago but then a bit of a lull. Now we look at

the short 11th. 157, he is leaning left. It is good now. Just over a

little mound. Yes. He knows he got away with it.

Gonzales, more of an upper body movement. He did not want it to fly

to much. It nearly goes down! It was right online. 44 years old, the man

from Rosario. Four-time winner on the European tour, playing

beautifully. The boys from Northern Ireland, they know how to move it

around on a windy day. Nice position here for Justin to pick up his

second birdie in a row. A little bit uphill, right-to-left. Two birdies

in a row. So, Gonzales to match Rose. He moves

within one of Marc Warren. Well done Shane. A two-time winner

on the European tour and another player who has found a really good

level of consistency in the last 18 months or so. The overnight leader,

Marc Warren. This is just left of the flag. That has held up in the

wind OK. Coming round nicely, for birdie.

Well holed. Great putt from David Howell. Back to five under. Five

behind. The sort of putt you would like to

have, a double bit downhill, right-to-left. Beautifully holed.

The Scotsman -- one of the Scotsman is going to be happy, whether that

is you Dougie, or Sam Torrance... A little colder than it was

earlier. The wind is still up. You can see how horrid this grass is

here. What have we got? Rose is in much better shape. It is not too bad

where his ball is. He marched out the yardage so that he does not go

over the green on that line. That is all he could do. That is well done.

This one is terrible. The ball is well above his feet. The rough is

going to really grab the shaft. There you go, no chance. A shake of

the head. The young Englishman, Tyrrell

Hatton. Genius. He is too young to be that good! The

crowds have come out thick, all the Aberdonians, may be stealing a few

from the other counties. Three in a row now for Justin Rose. So, it is

the English against the Scots at the moment. That happened a few years

ago. Gonzales. No movement in this one

but he certainly needs to make it, the way his playing companion is

holding birdies right and centre. He got a great read off Justin, just

not quite firm enough on that line. Unfortunately this is for bogey.

What a shame for David. He has gone along so nicely. Three shots gone in

to holed 's -- in two holes. Slightly obstructed view, for

Broberg. Just comes up a little bit. It is fine, though. It is a pretty

straight putt from there. Look at that beautiful angle into the pin.

He wants to land this five feet short, jump it up to feet past.

Stone dead. He is well capable of it too. Great chance here for Marc

Warren. Excellent shot. Excellent shot.

Great chance again for Warren. He had a great chance of winning at

Castle Stuart. He is back trying again. This is 14. Fabrizio Zanotti,

he made eight just in front of here not long ago. Rose deliberately laid

up, little hazard. It is a grass wall he is trying to hit across. A

wayward shot, the worst we have seen from Rose today. Right off the wall.

That is a horrid spot. Broberg, for his birdie. 13. A touch

right-to-left. Speed no problem. It is a great putt from Broberg. What a

good birdie. A rather snazzy pair of shoes,

little purple accent. I know you have a pair like that in your

closet, Sam. This is for birdie on 18. Chance.

Just a wee bit aggressive. You always feel you have done that, why

did I hear that so hard? Justin Rose is in big trouble at 14, so this

would actually be for a big lead. Well done, well done Marc Warren.

Broberg and Rose tied for second. Great stuff from Marc Warren, six

under today. He has been lucky, what a lie, Frank.

He could have been in all sorts of problems. The kick off the shoulder.

Fortunately, that is a putt for par. A win this week and Rose would move

to the number three position in the world ranking. He has really played

well. Remember that name, Tyrrell Hatton. Marc Warren.

No danger in the tee shot. Just knock it up the fairway. Then

straight in the bunker. That was a poor shot, Marc. He has got the

driver out. On the left side it is 240. It is another 20 at least to

carry it on the left side. He has ripped it. It is a little

right? Well, it is magnificent. If you can do that, it is worth it. You

might only get it once out of ten but great shot, got away with it.

Just got to hang tough. We saw Marc Warren in the bunker. He has come

out to hear. He will have a long shot in, just needs to make sure he

makes his five now. Playing 190, he has 169. The breeze

is making it a clear 190. The pin is just in front of the TV tower. The

second toughest hole on the course. Started down the right. As it

dragged back? Hopefully. That is OK. That is a very good shot from Marc

Warren there. That is just a huge tee shot. There have been very few

birdies here. He gets a nice kick. One more

bounce. Still an excellent chance for three here at the tough 14th.

105 perfect position here. He is going to try and take this a little

lower than he has been. That is exactly what he has done. It did not

sound like the best of strikes. It bounces beautifully, so you do not

see those big deep divots. But you have still got to be precise. Marc

Warren, bogey free so far. APPLAUSE Very good effort.

A shot drop but it is not a disaster.

Oh how quickly things change. A real tussle. The hole just tilted to the

left. That never looked anything other than going straight down the

middle of the hole. Rose is just two back now. Mikko Ilonen at four

under, this to get to five. A birdie on 16, can he do it on 17? Yes he

can. His sixth birdie of the day. Coming towards the closing stages of

this third round here at Royal Aberdeen golf club. Justin Rose.

179, beautiful position. Let the wind bring it in.

Excellent shot. That is the brave side of the green.

As we watch Mikko Ilonen. He has tossed this one right up in the air,

get it. Many years ago he won the amateur

championship. He looked for a bit too much. As it

came off the part, you knew he looked for a bit too much. Maybe a

bit of a slight pull. Ilonen looking to finish with a birdie at the last.

You just need to have that little bit of pace at the end of it to hold

the ball on line. Another fine day's work from the

tall Finn, 69. Getting away right. He has been lucky. Final tee shot

for Rose, just an iron. The ball Tracer giving us an idea of

the swing path, the flight of the ball. Beautiful. It certainly is.

Now the leader. This is way right. Whoa! That is bunker bound. Good

fortune really. He would have had no shot if he was in the staff behind

it. That is a good break for our leader. That is how the leaderboard

looks coming towards the end of this third round.

Marc Warren leads by one, but for how much longer?

Worthy of the applause there. Rose, from 171 with the wind straight off

the left. What a shot. Rose has somehow made five birdies on his

homeward nine. They have been very bold, very positive strokes all the

time. Up the hill. That was not the best putt that

Justin hit all day, by any means. Still looking in splendid form,

Justin Rose. 69, 68, 66. The progression is good. Broberg with a

bit of work to do for his par at 17. Did not start out in the middle of

the whole. I do like to see a little lag. Slap

bang in the middle. Six under still might be out of it.

-- still might not be out of it. APPLAUSE

Into the bunker I would think. Every chance. Which way is he going to

come out? He will want the -- he will want the wispy rough. He

has to be careful he does not get too cute. It really was a risky

shot. We have a fox on the box. The pin is right in the middle of the

green, ten paces on. Another cracking shot.

That should be on a good line. APPLAUSE

There is a good rhythm in this putt much it has two fall away to the

left. It will begin with a nasty one.

There will be a big draw if this goes in. Instead a groan as it slips

past. -- would be a big roar. Good playing today. A bit of a rocky

start for Kristoffer, but he comes back well.

Come on, Marc Warren, knock this one in. Marc Warren and Justin Rose will

play together as the final pair tomorrow afternoon. Leading the

Scottish Open by one. It is Justin Rose and Marc Warren who lead by one

from Kristoffer Broberg. Tyrrell Hatton, in his rookie year on tour,

how excited will he be tonight? Today was as good as I have played,

I want to say in a long time. Probably my second round at

Congressional and that round there, two of the best rounds I have played

all year. I think I got a close to the whole many times there, which is

tough to do on a links course. Really happy with way the game has

progressed throughout the week. I think the front nine I played really

well and was in control of what I was doing. Maybe had a couple of

fairway bunkers which is a 1-shot penalty around here. I managed to

save par once and give myself a good chance at 18. Taking it to tomorrow

in a great position. Plenty of low scores once again on the testing

Royal Aberdeen links and there is a real chase in prospect not only for

the title but for the three remaining qualifying spots for The

Open Championship at Hoylake. We will be back tomorrow.