:00:27. > :00:32.The European Tour takes the high road once again to the Scottish
:00:33. > :00:40.Highlands for the Aberdeen Asset Management 's Scottish Open, a
:00:41. > :00:43.return trip for the Championship to Castle Stuart, a course that clings
:00:44. > :00:48.spectacularly to the coastline with views to the Black Isle and beyond.
:00:49. > :00:53.It is the fourth visit in the history of the event and we have
:00:54. > :00:57.come north to a course that was co-designed by the man also respond
:00:58. > :01:02.of Dasha is possible for the Olympics this year. This event,
:01:03. > :01:07.which combines the ancient and modern is part one of fabulous
:01:08. > :01:14.fortnight of links golf. The former world number Luke Donald, for him it
:01:15. > :01:19.is an ideal tune-up. It always creates a strong field, people want
:01:20. > :01:25.to see some links golf and get that feel of the different turf that you
:01:26. > :01:30.experience. The coastline here at Scotland, always attracts a good
:01:31. > :01:40.field, a lot of guys from the US, over and it makes it a fun week.
:01:41. > :01:46.Phil Mickelson would agree. He completed a Castle Stuart Open
:01:47. > :01:53.Championship 33 years ago and is one of a number of high-profile players
:01:54. > :01:58.here on the PGA Tour of America. This is my favourite, one of my
:01:59. > :02:01.favourite links golf courses in the UK but my favourite place to hold
:02:02. > :02:09.the Scottish Open. I love this course. I cannot think of a better
:02:10. > :02:12.place to hold the Scottish Open. The startling low scores we have seen in
:02:13. > :02:18.the past here were hard to come by in the opening two days, wild and
:02:19. > :02:29.windy conditions blew away the chances of many but not that of Alex
:02:30. > :02:34.Noren who led a head of Danny Lee. They are amongst many here, chasing
:02:35. > :02:40.not only the title but one of the four remaining Open places on offer.
:02:41. > :02:57.Further back, Russell Mark and Martin Kime are six shots adrift. --
:02:58. > :03:04.Russell Marks and Martin Kramer. The rest of the Saturday play described
:03:05. > :03:08.for us by our commentators. It is relatively benign so far and that
:03:09. > :03:13.means in the Highlands many are taking the low road around Castle
:03:14. > :03:17.Stewart, with the news of Dustin Johnson's withdrawal from the
:03:18. > :03:23.Olympics, Patrick Reed is set to represent the USA in Rio. He is
:03:24. > :03:29.5-under, playing the closing hole. Last week Martin Kaymer seriously
:03:30. > :03:42.challenged at the French Open and he is looking good again. This was for
:03:43. > :03:46.an eagle on the second. The perfect kick-start to the German's round and
:03:47. > :03:59.he followed up on the third by giving himself a birdie chance. That
:04:00. > :04:06.is 3-under today already, 5-under in total. What about Bradley Dredge,
:04:07. > :04:10.runner-up to Rory McIlroy at the Irish Open in many? He is quick out
:04:11. > :04:16.of the blocks as well, with a birdie on the second and then this eagle as
:04:17. > :04:22.well on the driveable power-macro four third. And so with that,
:04:23. > :04:25.Bradley Dredge claims that Apple plans to 6-under for the
:04:26. > :04:37.Championship and he now shares Ford, only two off the pace up by Alex
:04:38. > :04:44.Noren. The final places at Royal Troon will go to the top four
:04:45. > :04:48.finishers here not yet qualified. Plenty to play for, a myriad of
:04:49. > :04:53.subplots and only one thing certain, with four shots covering the entire
:04:54. > :04:57.top 20 and a low number available, moving day should live up to its
:04:58. > :05:04.billing. Now then, you get the feeling that this could be quite
:05:05. > :05:23.some afternoon. I agree, 1st hole, second shot for to row pattern. --
:05:24. > :05:30.Tyrell Hatton. Great start. Four off the pace. Looks like getting a
:05:31. > :05:38.birdie on the first. Andy Sullivan on the first. He is second to the
:05:39. > :05:45.par-5 second, it easily reachable with this wind direction. That is a
:05:46. > :05:53.cracker. For the man, not just chasing this title, but also in
:05:54. > :05:58.invaluable Ryder Cup points. He is getting nearer and nearer to that
:05:59. > :06:11.Haseltine date. Tyrell Hatton, for 5-under. And a great start. No where
:06:12. > :06:17.else. The forecast for this afternoon is not so clever. I think
:06:18. > :06:29.it is a case of making hay while the sun almost shines. Noel eagle for
:06:30. > :06:37.Sullivan, but putting much a birdie -- Noel eagle. Going towards the
:06:38. > :06:46.very end of his third round, Patrick Reed, after a confident American par
:06:47. > :06:55.putt on the 18. That gets him back into this Championship. Minus four.
:06:56. > :07:01.I can tell you that Sullivan did tidy up for his birdie on the
:07:02. > :07:10.second. Strides to the third tee and it is a sporty hold today, playing
:07:11. > :07:16.286 yards, so will reachable. Going downwind, to bowl edge of this golf
:07:17. > :07:30.course, this beautiful course at Castle Stuart. -- to the edge. Eagle
:07:31. > :07:42.chance to come. From one eagle chance to another. Tyrell Hatton, he
:07:43. > :07:47.loves this Scottish Open, two years ago at Royal Aberdeen he was tied
:07:48. > :07:55.fourth and then as a rookie pro on the European Tour. The water is
:07:56. > :08:02.pretty still on the Moray Firth, as we see Phil Mickelson trying to
:08:03. > :08:13.close with a birdie four, the sort grip he is using on the
:08:14. > :08:21.potter-macro. Thought he had it. -- putter.
:08:22. > :08:29.What a presence, though, in any tournament that he plays. A real
:08:30. > :08:31.affinity with links golf, the 2013 Open champion loves this part of the
:08:32. > :08:47.world. Sullivan, for the eagle on the
:08:48. > :08:53.third. Great tee shot. Gets his just deserts. His caddy coming in, saying
:08:54. > :09:11.well done mate. What a start. Richie Ramsay, a couple of weeks
:09:12. > :09:17.ago, won a car for a hole-in-one of the BMW International Open in
:09:18. > :09:28.Germany. I tell you what, inches away from a hole-in-one on a par
:09:29. > :09:34.four! Tyrell Hatton normally very good on these six footers for
:09:35. > :09:46.8-under. He is running hot. Tyrell Hatton.
:09:47. > :09:54.Are you good look back at this simply striking course. I am afraid
:09:55. > :10:02.not a striking tee shot from Eddie Pepperell.
:10:03. > :10:15.The drive not the way you want to start your day, but a really good
:10:16. > :10:18.recovery. Eddie from a club in Oxfordshire, a couple of Oxford lads
:10:19. > :10:32.doing well. His play has improved so much of
:10:33. > :10:40.late, I cannot believe it, it he is 596 on the world rankings. He missed
:10:41. > :10:47.the cut in May. With his talent, that is ludicrous. He is on the way
:10:48. > :10:54.back though. Sullivan, testing for par. Test not passed. He slips back
:10:55. > :11:02.to minus six. I have done that before, hit my ankle. Ouch!
:11:03. > :11:12.As it was when he took seven on the 18th last week. In the final round,
:11:13. > :11:16.simply burned Ryder Cup points as a result of that triple bogey. He is
:11:17. > :11:21.right in there still, plenty of time left, top of the board. This is the
:11:22. > :11:30.number one on the challenge Tour from last year. He is from Portugal.
:11:31. > :11:33.86 on the race to Dubai currently, one more good results from him and
:11:34. > :11:44.he will get his card for next season. He moves to 7-under. At the
:11:45. > :11:49.7th. Just one off the lead. Or night leader, Alex Noren. With the big
:11:50. > :11:57.stick on the first -- overnight leader.
:11:58. > :12:04.They all say shot, I do not want to be a harbinger of doom for him, but
:12:05. > :12:16.in terms of halfway leaders in this tournament, the last one to go on
:12:17. > :12:21.and lift the trophy was Gregory Havret back in 2007. Alex Noren is a
:12:22. > :12:23.self-confessed practice jockey. There is the leaderboard, an
:12:24. > :12:31.indication of just how tight things have become with Tyrell Hatton, and
:12:32. > :12:38.Eddie Pepperell joining Alex Noren at the top. Look at that, only two
:12:39. > :12:44.shots separating the top 11 players. In the final group, Danny Lee,
:12:45. > :12:51.Korean born New Zealander, hanging lie, ball below his feet, after a
:12:52. > :12:52.good drive, can he get it close? There is your answer, straight at
:12:53. > :13:19.it. Perfect lie, perfect angle of attack
:13:20. > :13:25.for Alex Noren. Always applies lots of spin to the ball. On these
:13:26. > :13:35.receptive greens for a links course, it looks prosperous. Tyrell Hatton
:13:36. > :13:52.with another birdie chance. Just overcooked it. The right side of the
:13:53. > :14:03.hole. Four after those holes today. Branden Grace. A round of 68 was.
:14:04. > :14:09.Has to be regarded as one of the favourites, only two back, I big
:14:10. > :14:14.occasion player. I remember talking to him on the practice ground and he
:14:15. > :14:18.said he left a couple of shots out there -- a big occasion player. Just
:14:19. > :14:41.a misread, good pace. Alex Noren has briefly been caught
:14:42. > :14:45.at the top. And does not break the tie, only the par. No doubt a source
:14:46. > :14:59.of frustration. Great opportunity that.
:15:00. > :15:08.Padraig Harrington has had a good start, this is his tee shot on the
:15:09. > :15:10.fourth. Delightful par four with Castle Stuart in the background.
:15:11. > :15:29.Great effort. Chance there to get to seven. I
:15:30. > :15:34.think all of the world's great course designers agree that every
:15:35. > :15:39.great Championship venue should have at least one driveable par four. The
:15:40. > :15:49.third very much driveable with something less than a driver. The
:15:50. > :15:58.wind just adding to get up a little bit now. In Clement weather forecast
:15:59. > :16:10.for later in the day -- the weather just starting to get up a little bit
:16:11. > :16:13.now. A splendid venue this. Splendid approach from Matteo Manassero, in
:16:14. > :16:17.the dough drones, it would appear no more. Hard to believe this place is
:16:18. > :16:32.only seven years old -- Don drums. Pick it out! He and Graeme McDowell
:16:33. > :16:37.and several others, very good poor weather players, he will not mind if
:16:38. > :16:46.the wind gets up a bit. Eddie Pepperell, birdie on the first, from
:16:47. > :16:54.an unlike real Cajun off the tee. -- an unlikely occasion. Really well
:16:55. > :17:10.judged. First good birdie chance on the course. Alex Noren, 554 yards.
:17:11. > :17:27.He greens it with the Aaron-macro, avoiding sand city on the right. --
:17:28. > :17:36.iron. Back on the third green, a man who won by the sea across the
:17:37. > :17:40.Atlantic -- Atlantic. Branden Grace. Putting the cat amongst the
:17:41. > :17:51.proverbial pigeons with an eagle. He triumphed on the shores of
:17:52. > :18:06.Alex Noren. Pace putt this one, up and over the rise in the middle of
:18:07. > :18:10.the green, slowed down. This judgment there from the sweet, four
:18:11. > :18:19.wins on the European Tour on his CV already. We haven't seen that putt
:18:20. > :18:24.already from Eddie Pepperell, not quite such a good job done by Danny
:18:25. > :18:29.Lee, but he should convert that for birdie. Branden Grace on the fifth,
:18:30. > :18:49.the par four. 452 yards. Pin seeking a game, straight at it
:18:50. > :18:58.-- again. Alex Noren. Two part birdie. Smooth it end. He moves
:18:59. > :19:10.smoothly to minus nine. Looking strong.
:19:11. > :19:28.The conventional but effective patting stroke of Branden Grace --
:19:29. > :19:31.putting. Only a par. So there it is, Eddie Pepperell and Alex Noren lead
:19:32. > :19:36.by a single stroke from Tyrell Hatton. Branden Grace and Matteo
:19:37. > :19:42.Manassero, it really is tight. Next week it is the big one, the Open
:19:43. > :19:50.Championship at Royal Troon and then at the end of the month, the women's
:19:51. > :19:57.British Open, what a festival of golf awaits. Par for Alex Noren on
:19:58. > :20:11.the third. Here now for the fourth, a chance. It was good for lying, if
:20:12. > :20:23.only he had hit it. Taplin should be simple enough for the par. Stays
:20:24. > :20:35.9-under. -- tap in. Tyrell Hatton tried to keep a bogey off his card.
:20:36. > :20:42.Gets very annoyed with himself on the golf course, not so bad as he
:20:43. > :20:47.was a couple of years back, but still, you always sense there is
:20:48. > :20:51.Volcano awaiting -- waiting to a rock that there. Not happy but
:20:52. > :20:55.keeping his emotions under wraps more than when he first joined the
:20:56. > :21:06.Tour. Branden Grace, pretty well positioned. Left-hand side of the
:21:07. > :21:14.sixth fairway. Front pin, never easy, just a little unlucky to run
:21:15. > :21:23.quite that far past. On the sixth. Par, 568 yards. What a round from
:21:24. > :21:32.Andy Sullivan, Eagles on the third and fifth, two drop as well. He
:21:33. > :21:40.feels robbed there. Could so easily have been a birdie on nine, as it
:21:41. > :21:44.is, out. Unlucky with the run-through on the approach for
:21:45. > :21:48.Branden Grace, can he get the eagle, that would be a note them, misread.
:21:49. > :22:09.Couple of feet left. A few spots of rain now appearing in
:22:10. > :22:16.the skies. All of the modern day professionals are so proficient from
:22:17. > :22:29.Santa. And Alex Noren on the fifth not letting me down. -- or so
:22:30. > :22:39.proficient on the sand. Branden Grace for the birdie. Very
:22:40. > :22:46.comfortable indeed, finding that par-5. We talked about Matteo
:22:47. > :22:52.Manassero slumping down the rankings, one of the reasons, he
:22:53. > :22:59.tried to achieve more at length off the tee. The technical issue became
:23:00. > :23:07.a confidence problem, but reaching the six in a couple of shots is no
:23:08. > :23:09.problem today. So nearly the appearance of an albatross.
:23:10. > :23:30.Fantastic! Alejandro Canizares plane on the
:23:31. > :23:31.eighth, beautiful read and execution. Some support in the
:23:32. > :23:54.crowd. 7-under, just two behind. Now on the ninth, Tyrell Hatton for
:23:55. > :24:01.birdie. That is what they call a bounce back, bogey on eight, bogey
:24:02. > :24:08.online, out in 32. He is a feisty character, I tipped him earlier to
:24:09. > :24:12.win soon, it could be this week. Eagle chance on the sixth as the
:24:13. > :24:19.rain patters down a little more heavily, he does not feel a thing.
:24:20. > :24:25.Eagle three, 10-under, look out the rest, he is back on form. It is hard
:24:26. > :24:33.to comprehend that from the Irish Open last year, he missed 16
:24:34. > :24:46.consecutive cuts. To the Pretoria, Branden Grace, claw grip deployed by
:24:47. > :24:59.him. Par putt is missed. He lets one slip. The most fearsome hole on the
:25:00. > :25:05.golf course today is the seventh, 467 yards into the wind, Eddie
:25:06. > :25:13.Pepperell in the rough off the tee. And that has gone straight right.
:25:14. > :25:17.Oh, please! There is some gorse over there and all sorts of stuff that
:25:18. > :25:28.can really hurt you, in more ways than one. Good luck, Eddie!
:25:29. > :25:38.That languid takeaway. Second to 13. Very nice indeed. He played some
:25:39. > :25:42.wonderful stuff on the challenge Tour last year, people are
:25:43. > :25:48.collecting big things from him. Eddie Pepperell, found his ball, he
:25:49. > :25:57.literally hacked it out to hear, fourth shot coming up on the par
:25:58. > :26:06.four. Nice effort. That is for a bogey five.
:26:07. > :26:32.Out in 33. Birdie 12. A slight push on 13. Has to settle for a par.
:26:33. > :26:44.Quite a level-headed sort, it seems to me. Yes. He is solid. Four under
:26:45. > :26:51.par for his round so far. Get going! Pools up on the slightly damp
:26:52. > :26:52.surface, first bogey of the round, on the toughest hole on the golf
:26:53. > :27:06.course, the seventh. With this wind direction from the
:27:07. > :27:10.east, the entire characteristics of the course have changed. On
:27:11. > :27:16.Thursday, the average score was 75.3 and we saw a host of double bogeys
:27:17. > :27:19.or worse and talking about double bogeys, Eddie Pepperell is in danger
:27:20. > :27:29.of making one here. He has really struggled. He leaves it short as
:27:30. > :27:38.well, disappointing. Double bogey six. And a score that hurts even
:27:39. > :27:44.more when he knows that people around him are making birdies and
:27:45. > :27:50.eagles and going forward. So Matteo Manassero leads the way at 9-under
:27:51. > :27:58.par. Just approaching the turn and five players just one shot adrift.
:27:59. > :28:04.And all the guys on 5-under par including Henrik Stenson who shot a
:28:05. > :28:09.66 today and Russell Knox and Richie Ramsay are right there in
:28:10. > :28:15.contention. Quite a leaderboard and a world leader in beauty is Scotland
:28:16. > :28:22.itself. No visit here disappoints. This is the land of castles. One of
:28:23. > :28:28.them being Castle Stuart, completed in 1625 by James Stewart. It is a
:28:29. > :28:33.place for those who revel in history, for those who rejoice in
:28:34. > :28:40.scenic splendour and for those who appreciate the home of golf.
:28:41. > :28:47.Beautiful pictures, the rain getting heavier now is the day progresses.
:28:48. > :28:53.The job of the caddy is so important, Matteo Manassero had just
:28:54. > :28:56.parred the eighth, second to nine, the elevated green, is very good,
:28:57. > :29:18.right over the stick. Playing two to two yards, no bargain
:29:19. > :29:25.as Hamas has found out. -- 222. -- Alex Noren.
:29:26. > :29:35.Graeme McDowell, needs to get going. Park-macro the 10th and -- he parred
:29:36. > :29:43.the 10th and gets going at the 11th. 5-under. Brought up on links golf at
:29:44. > :30:01.Port Stuart, and Portrush. Danny Lee, lovely. Well saved on
:30:02. > :30:05.eight. He was the youngest ever winner on the European Tour when he
:30:06. > :30:12.prevailed in the 2009 Johnnie Walker classic as an amateur. Now back to
:30:13. > :30:17.the overnight leader, the Oklahoma State University graduate, Alex
:30:18. > :30:30.Noren. Very simple putting action. In for the par-3. Studies the ship.
:30:31. > :30:34.-- the ship is made steady. Reached the turn in 33, since then a birdie
:30:35. > :30:52.on 11. No drop shots. A case of the nears. He will tap in
:30:53. > :30:58.for par. A birdie chance for Manassero. Ninth hole, playing this
:30:59. > :31:08.hardest, the first half of this third round. Just an ounce two more
:31:09. > :31:17.pace and that would have held line. It's a very good forehand, that hole
:31:18. > :31:20.today. It was a nine off the tee for Branden Grace, he went left, then
:31:21. > :31:26.right, over the green into the hazard. That's his fourth shot.
:31:27. > :31:33.Needs to hold that to avoid a double bogey. Noren, he will get some spin.
:31:34. > :31:37.Arms hanging straight down, has to cut across the ball, gets lots of
:31:38. > :31:46.slip on it. Can he get the judgment of the distance right? Past the pin,
:31:47. > :31:47.screw it back, come on. Oh, how about that? Just what the doctor
:31:48. > :32:01.ordered. A chance to get level with
:32:02. > :32:10.Manassero. If Grace can hold this it will feel like a birdie. Now it
:32:11. > :32:17.feels like a crushing blow. The worst way to start the back nine.
:32:18. > :32:24.Double bogey. At the tense, a spot of bother for Manassero, not
:32:25. > :32:32.reaching the green with his second. On the par-4, and he's still
:32:33. > :32:35.struggling for par now. These skies are darkening. It looks as though we
:32:36. > :32:41.are in for a sustained spell of rain. Good view of the putt of Alex
:32:42. > :32:58.Noren. No bother. Or is it nae bother here? At the
:32:59. > :33:05.start it was fun, now it's turning into a grind. Two shot swing is
:33:06. > :33:13.possible here now. If it doesn't going, he's left it short again. --
:33:14. > :33:19.if it doesn't go in. It's two bogeys in the last four holes. Hasn't been
:33:20. > :33:22.in the rarefied atmosphere of the top of the leaderboard for quite a
:33:23. > :33:29.while so nerves may be kicking in, who knows. Grace, very experienced,
:33:30. > :33:39.trying to put the disappointment of the previous hole in the back of his
:33:40. > :33:49.mind. But it's only a par on 11. One birdie. Eight pars so far for Danny
:33:50. > :33:59.Lee. Staring down his second shot on the 10th. Another great view out
:34:00. > :34:01.towards the Firth. He has used the contours pretty well, that was
:34:02. > :34:14.important. A nice touch. Recently Graeme McDowell has made a
:34:15. > :34:20.birdie two here, on the shortest hole on the course, the 11th. Maybe
:34:21. > :34:33.Manassero will match McDowell's feet. -- feat. The green is just on
:34:34. > :34:40.the edge of the coastline there. Another big divot, cutting action of
:34:41. > :34:48.Alex Noren, holding it up into the breeze. Beautiful. And the word
:34:49. > :34:54.beautiful applies to the round today of the South African Justin Walters,
:34:55. > :35:00.needing two putts from here on the 18th for a birdie to come home in
:35:01. > :35:12.32, for a bogey free round of 65. A good old-fashioned tonk. Absolutely
:35:13. > :35:17.tremendous. The man who had to return to school in Spain at the end
:35:18. > :35:26.of last season to regain his card. Now vying for a place in the Open.
:35:27. > :35:27.Danny Lee. Nice tempo on the putting stroke, looks for a borrow that
:35:28. > :35:52.wasn't there. Well accustomed to the vagaries of
:35:53. > :36:03.links golf, Manassero. Broke through really to prominence down informed
:36:04. > :36:10.Formby, when he won the amateur Championship. Back-to-back birdies,
:36:11. > :36:11.Alex Noren come exquisite. Played the hole perfectly. Particularly in
:36:12. > :36:20.those conditions. He leads by one. Now come on, Justin. Persuade this
:36:21. > :36:35.one in. A 65 around here any time is
:36:36. > :36:44.laudable. A 65 today, fantastic. The best round of the week so far. And
:36:45. > :36:50.with that, Walters leads in the clubhouse but on the course come out
:36:51. > :36:54.in front, it's Alex Noren. The standard of this man's ball striking
:36:55. > :36:59.over the first two rounds was excellent. Fourth in driving
:37:00. > :37:10.accuracy, fifth in greens and regulation. He is a shotmaker. The
:37:11. > :37:15.he is, has to avoid a bunker on the left-hand side and does so very well
:37:16. > :37:18.indeed. It's a good job that par-3 is quite short, because the water
:37:19. > :37:39.looks very close to the green on the left-hand side. Two pars so far on
:37:40. > :37:44.this hole for Danny Lee this week. Just lovely, won the US amateur
:37:45. > :37:50.Championship in 2008, did Danny. The youngest ever winner at that time,
:37:51. > :37:54.beating the record of a certain Tiger Woods. The world number ten,
:37:55. > :37:59.Branden Grace, a birdie chance on the 12th. These players have to
:38:00. > :38:05.strike the ball a bit harder than they've been so far this week on
:38:06. > :38:20.these pure greens. Getting damp now. Chance missed there. Grace stays
:38:21. > :38:33.6-under. May be just the slowing of that pace caught Noren out there. A
:38:34. > :38:36.tap in par, mind you, stress-free. Caddy is working hard -- the caddies
:38:37. > :38:41.are working hard, protecting their players. They are allowed to shelter
:38:42. > :38:45.under their rubella as they prepare for the putt, but not as they strike
:38:46. > :38:58.the ball. -- shelter under their own brother. 9-under, nowhere else. He's
:38:59. > :39:03.donating $500 for every birdie this week to the flood relief fund in
:39:04. > :39:12.West Virginia. $1000 for an eagle. Very generous, and it's a really
:39:13. > :39:20.good cause. The 12th hole, uphill snaky par five, third shot for
:39:21. > :39:25.Manassero. Very well judged. That's a brave shot, right at the stick.
:39:26. > :39:40.You can see the problem left again. He's not afraid.
:39:41. > :39:49.599 yards, 12, today, a proper par-5. Oh dear, it's left this. It's
:39:50. > :39:54.not out of bounds, it's a hazard, so he'll be dropping back into play
:39:55. > :40:01.undertaking a penalty shot there. He's on the beach, I reckon. I don't
:40:02. > :40:03.know what's over there. No need to reload, it's a hazard, not out of
:40:04. > :40:23.bounds. On the safety of the green. Looks exasperated, Manassero, but he
:40:24. > :40:30.must be absolutely overjoyed to be back in the limelight. Because he's
:40:31. > :40:36.been very much in the wilderness. Yes, on an exemption after winning
:40:37. > :40:44.the BMW PM -- PGA Championship three years ago, a five-year exemption.
:40:45. > :40:49.Lee, on the par-5 12th. Can he judge it? I think he can. Stop. A fine
:40:50. > :41:01.shot. For his playing partner Noren it's
:41:02. > :41:12.all about damage limitation. He took his drop and he's now playing his
:41:13. > :41:15.fists shot. -- fifth shot. Under normal circumstances professionals
:41:16. > :41:21.hate to make a six on a par-5. Laurent -- Noren would be
:41:22. > :41:25.overwhelmingly relieved. Padraig Harrington, on the 13th, coming off
:41:26. > :41:32.six pars in a row from the seventh. He is 1-under for his round. Make
:41:33. > :41:34.that two under for the round and 7-under for the Championship. Kicks
:41:35. > :41:45.the habit, a red figure, very welcome.
:41:46. > :41:53.Lee, to move double digits under the card.
:41:54. > :42:02.You'd better believe it. Try to maintain the great history of course
:42:03. > :42:07.of New Zealand's success in links golf. Simon Owen so nearly when the
:42:08. > :42:16.Open Championship at St Andrews in 1978. Sir Bobby Charlton did triumph
:42:17. > :42:19.in the open in 1963. Lee is 2-10, this is for the bogey for Noren. --
:42:20. > :42:29.Lee goes to minus ten. On the back nine so far for Tyrell
:42:30. > :43:01.Hatton it's been exclusively pars. That on 17 one fine effort. The
:43:02. > :43:08.weather is closing in rather now. They will all be tired at the end of
:43:09. > :43:14.this day. McDowell just coming off a birdie 14. The tough 15th, the
:43:15. > :43:20.hardest hole on the course. A swinger, it's in, birdie.
:43:21. > :43:37.When the going gets tough, you can often bank on this man. Manassero, a
:43:38. > :43:43.386 par for the 14th. He's avoided the rumbles as they are called on
:43:44. > :43:52.the fairway on the right-hand side. -- rumples. A birdie chance. We've
:43:53. > :43:57.talked a lot about open places being up for grabs at this tournament.
:43:58. > :44:02.Tyrell Hatton has qualified for the Open four times since 2010. And I'll
:44:03. > :44:12.tell you what, he's bang on course to make that five times. 9-under,
:44:13. > :44:17.they are really bunching at the top. This bad weather has concertinas
:44:18. > :44:22.this leaderboard rather, and a man putting for 9-under, Manassero. He's
:44:23. > :44:33.putting machine, this guy. A little nudge of a stroke. He nudges it in.
:44:34. > :44:45.Even George Formby could not have said, it's turned out nicely today!
:44:46. > :44:57.I know what you mean! Danny Lee. For the par, oh, no, Danny, that was a
:44:58. > :45:01.bit whiffy, that stroke, didn't really commit to it. You have to in
:45:02. > :45:13.these conditions. Bogey time, back to nine. So that is the way it
:45:14. > :45:19.stands. 9-under a common score, and it's tied at the top, five of them.
:45:20. > :45:24.The longest hole on the golf course is the last hole, 607 yard par-5,
:45:25. > :45:29.and easier prospect on day three than it has been over the first
:45:30. > :45:33.couple of rounds. Hatton, can he reach this raised green, or put
:45:34. > :45:41.second over the rough stuff? What a shot that is. He got it on the
:45:42. > :45:43.green, in one. Yes, this 18th is a very different animal to what it was
:45:44. > :45:53.on Thursday. It was ferociously difficult then. A host of double
:45:54. > :46:01.bogeys, or worse. Tight pin placement just over a little mound
:46:02. > :46:14.guarding the front of the green. Oh, but he's found it has Alex Noren.
:46:15. > :46:22.Graeme McDowell, for three birdies in succession.
:46:23. > :46:34.He likes a birdie on the 16th, does Graeme. It was a birdie in 2010 that
:46:35. > :46:41.effectively sealed the Ryder Cup. Water last day that was. Now then.
:46:42. > :46:50.Hatton. Very good eagle chance, up onto the upper level. Keep going. A
:46:51. > :47:02.bit of left for the birdie. Is that a smile, or winds? Well, it will be
:47:03. > :47:03.a smile, if Noren holds this on 14. APPLAUSE
:47:04. > :47:19.Standing firm. Up ahead on 15, having also birdied
:47:20. > :47:22.the 14th, Manassero. Slightly awkward, this one. As to get the
:47:23. > :47:28.pace and the flight right. It's looking good. It's looking better
:47:29. > :47:36.than good! It's fantastic. Chip in birdie. Well, he's full of self
:47:37. > :47:42.belief. His short game is right up there with the very best. If you can
:47:43. > :47:48.win on the European Tour as he did, when you're 17 years of age, at
:47:49. > :47:54.Sergio Garcia's Place, you are something special. Yes, it started a
:47:55. > :48:00.trend, he has won three times since. At for a good birdie finish. An
:48:01. > :48:09.excellent third day will stop 66 it is for the 24-year-old and wish man.
:48:10. > :48:14.He is right in the mix. -- 24-year-old English man. He is often
:48:15. > :48:21.described as a winner in waiting. It might be around 24 hours, the wait.
:48:22. > :48:25.Alex Noren, 1-under par for the last four holes on this golf course so
:48:26. > :48:32.far this week. That's impressive. Third shot on 15th. That's pretty
:48:33. > :48:39.impressive as well, nice control. On the long par-4.
:48:40. > :48:50.From the right-hand rough. Just chopped into it. Great imagination
:48:51. > :49:01.and execution. So McDowell made a hat-trick of
:49:02. > :49:03.birdies on 14, 15 and 16. Manassero has the opportunity to do exactly
:49:04. > :49:10.the same. Danny Lee. He nestles one up there, played
:49:11. > :49:34.handily. From the hard pan just short of the
:49:35. > :49:45.18th green in two. McDowell, so tough to make the right contact. If
:49:46. > :49:49.he holds that, he is home in 31. Amazing, yes, that grass is really
:49:50. > :50:00.short, like most greens on some golf courses. Lee, for the par. As
:50:01. > :50:14.important as any birdie. He remains minus nine. Right in the hunt.
:50:15. > :50:30.Well holed. When you are in contention, that's bread and butter.
:50:31. > :50:36.. The wind has dropped now, the rain is not really going away. Manassero.
:50:37. > :50:46.For birdie on 16. Does he like it? He does now. That ball likes the
:50:47. > :50:52.dark, doesn't it? Down it goes. And up Manassero goes into the lead, on
:50:53. > :50:57.his own. Meanwhile upon the 18th, Graeme McDowell has missed his
:50:58. > :51:09.birdie putt, so if he tidies up with this one it's in for a 69, back nine
:51:10. > :51:12.of 32. Great golf in the conditions. Yes, because the way he started
:51:13. > :51:20.suggested it might be a length thing and not exactly fruitful day. --
:51:21. > :51:33.lengthy. Noren, with that brisk swing on 16. Well, late spin, but
:51:34. > :51:42.not a lot of it. Up ahead on the 17th, last of the par threes,
:51:43. > :51:45.excellent par-3s at Castle Stuart, Manassero, a long-range birdie
:51:46. > :51:49.attempt. That's a bit slow, isn't it? Keep going. It was downhill, but
:51:50. > :52:07.he gave that one too much respect. Noren unable to regain a share of
:52:08. > :52:22.the lead, but he should have done enough to make a par. Now, come on,
:52:23. > :52:27.Matteo. You don't see two bad putts in a row too often from this man.
:52:28. > :52:31.It's been one of those days, just when using someone might take the
:52:32. > :52:36.tournament by the scruff of the neck, they can't pull away. So
:52:37. > :52:40.Tyrell Hatton, the clubhouse leader, with a round of 66 is the joint
:52:41. > :52:48.leader with Manassero once this man, Alex Noren. He's tackling his
:52:49. > :52:58.seventeenths, playing 291 yards in round three. Good floaters upswing.
:52:59. > :53:04.-- good flow, to that swing. That's why he likes it so much, what an
:53:05. > :53:10.effort that is. A fantastic shot, one of the shots of the day for me.
:53:11. > :53:14.He has won in his native Sweden a couple of times in damp conditions,
:53:15. > :53:25.so clearly not a problem for him, this deluge. Danny Lee's turn,
:53:26. > :53:27.holding the pose, never a bad sign. It's very good, a bit unlucky to run
:53:28. > :53:40.quite so far passed. Who would have thought this? Branden
:53:41. > :53:58.Grace has this putt to avoid coming home in 40 will. Double bogey the
:53:59. > :54:05.tents, bogeyed the 14th and 15th. -- tenth. A round of 74 as miserable as
:54:06. > :54:19.the weather. It might have been not good reading for Grace fans. 17. A
:54:20. > :54:24.marker of Alex Noren you can see in the foreground, as Lee goes for his
:54:25. > :54:30.birdie. A probe at the top side, just did not to fall in. -- pro
:54:31. > :54:36.putt. He will remain -9 with the tap in. A light grip on the right hand,
:54:37. > :54:51.hardly on the club itself. Throughout the round we've seen so
:54:52. > :55:00.many examples of Matteo Manassero's short game wizardry. Can he finish
:55:01. > :55:07.off with one? I remember when Mickelson played in exquisite shot
:55:08. > :55:12.when he won here. Do you remember it? It won him the play-off place
:55:13. > :55:13.against Branden Grace in 2013. Manassero can't win today of course
:55:14. > :55:25.but he's in a very good position. It looks easy enough, doesn't it, a
:55:26. > :55:27.couple of feet, but as you can see from our camera fighting against the
:55:28. > :55:34.conditions here. The wind is strengthening, nothing is easy.
:55:35. > :55:48.Noren for birdie, fantastic birdie as well. Wasn't it just? Yes, in
:55:49. > :55:52.rugby terms, that was definitely one against the head. Here is
:55:53. > :56:07.Manassero's birdie putt on the last. Oh dear. That is not a stroke that
:56:08. > :56:13.will send him to bed feeling good. Know, those three putts on 17 a
:56:14. > :56:19.Portland to that finish, in a way. Amazing stuff -- it was a prediction
:56:20. > :56:24.to that finish, in a way. He dribbles to a finish. A good score
:56:25. > :56:29.though, 68, he will be happy with that overall. As for Danny Lee, 289
:56:30. > :56:35.yards to the hole. Surprisingly didn't take a driver off the tee.
:56:36. > :56:46.Was challenged this second shot is. Anything right and you are in
:56:47. > :56:53.position Z minus. I'm not sure what he's going to find there. It's just
:56:54. > :56:57.short. Could be OK. A more positive choice of tee shot for Noren,
:56:58. > :57:03.reaping the benefits can reach this green with an iron. Very brisk as
:57:04. > :57:09.you mention threw the ball, good clearance of the hips. Full release.
:57:10. > :57:15.Shouting it to go, and that's why. Another five yards and that was
:57:16. > :57:20.near-perfect. And that is going to be quite a tight lie down at the
:57:21. > :57:31.Dell. If Noren can get up and down from their, he will lead by two
:57:32. > :57:41.overnight. Solely's third shot, got him to hear. A chance of a last gasp
:57:42. > :57:51.birdie -- Lee's third shot. Not a bad try, but he will settle for a
:57:52. > :57:56.par on the close. Now to 70, two under par today, 9-under for the
:57:57. > :58:05.Championship, right in it still. As are so many. Tomorrow promises much.
:58:06. > :58:18.It's all about whether Noren can get that extra cushion now.
:58:19. > :58:30.What a finish! Weather, what weather? He's made of stern stuff,
:58:31. > :58:38.this man. He could be very to catch. -- very tough to catch.
:58:39. > :58:42.HAZEL IRVINE: A fighting finish and the Swede
:58:43. > :58:50.extensive advantage to two shots but 15 men are within reach, a ?550,000
:58:51. > :58:55.first prize will be up for grabs and so to the last four mile -- last
:58:56. > :59:01.four places for Troon next week. We are back with highlights at quarter
:59:02. > :59:03.to midnight, I hope we will catch you then. Good night.