MacIntyre in pursuit as Aberg keeps Scottish Open lead

Scottish Open 3rd round

-17 L Aberg (Swe); -15 R MacIntyre (Sco); -14 A Scott (Aus); -13 C Morikawa (US), S Theegala (US), S Im (Kor), A Rozner (Fra); -12 R McIlroy (NI), E van Rooyen (SA), Manassero (Ita)

Selected others: -10 T Fleetwood (Eng); -9 X Schauffele (US), C Syme (Sco); -8 M Fitzpatrick (Eng); -6 V Hovland (Nor); -5 J Thomas (US)

Leaderboard

Home favourite Robert MacIntyre played "absolutely brilliantly" connected time 3 to bolster his hopes of delivering nan Scottish Open title he agonisingly missed retired connected past year.

The Scot – pipped to glory by Rory McIlroy 12 months agone – posted a stunning 63 to group nan clubhouse target earlier Ludvig Aberg’s fantabulous decorativeness gave nan Swede a 66 and two-shot lead connected 15 nether heading into nan last day.

Australia’s Adam Scott is 3 strokes backmost while Americans Collin Morikawa and Sahith Theegala are among those connected 13 under.

Defending champion McIlroy was again near to rue missed chances, signing for a 67 that leaves him 5 adrift of Aberg astatine nan rain-lashed Renaissance Club.

MacIntyre signalled his intent pinch birdies connected 3 and 4 but moreover amended was to travel connected nan next.

Having driven nan green, he drained nan eagle putt from complete 40 feet to prehend a stock of nan lead and raise nan decibels among his raucous following.

MacIntyre added 4 birdies connected nan backmost 9 and contempt dropped shots connected 12 and 18 - wherever he three-putted from nan separator of nan greenish - he carded nan lowest information of nan day.

While MacIntyre has made nary concealed of nan truth nan Scottish Open is nan "one I want", he feels nary other unit successful trying to overhaul Aberg connected Sunday.

"The fans are location to support maine but I can’t consciousness arsenic though I’m carrying that," he said.

"I’ve sewage nan weight of maine and [caddie] Mike [Burrow], there’s nary 1 other putting unit connected me. I’ve sewage expectations, that’s nan only point we’ve got.

"Whatever happens tomorrow, happens. As agelong arsenic I springiness 100% I’ll hopefully beryllium location aliases thereabouts."

Third-round pacesetter Aberg was 4 nether for nan time done 10 holes earlier a miss from wrong 3 feet connected 12 capped consecutive bogeys to dent his challenge.

However, he responded majestically pinch birdies connected 13, 16 and 17 to double nan advantage he held astatine nan halfway stage.

"Not nan astir stress-free play but it was again a bully people - I'm pleased pinch nan measurement I hung successful location and vanished it out," said nan Swede.

"Tomorrow will beryllium fun. Looks for illustration I'm playing pinch Bob arsenic well, truthful it will beryllium a cool pairing and looking guardant to it."

McIlroy was besides 4 nether aft 10, but grounded to capitalise connected further birdie opportunities earlier dropping a changeable astatine nan last.

"The past 4 holes I've astir apt played them nan worst I could, which is unfortunate because I felt for illustration I could person been correct up there, benignant of astatine 15 nether astir nan lead," said nan Northern Irishman.

England's Tommy Fleetwood, six shots backmost astatine nan commencement of play, made an early complaint pinch 5 birdies successful his first six holes to get wrong 1 changeable of apical spot.

Another connected 16 lifted him to 12 nether but a superb information unravelled connected nan past pinch a double bogey aft uncovering a greenside bunker pinch his approach.

"Disappointed and frustrated" was really Fleetwood summed up his emotions.

He added: "I'm scoring overmuch worse than I'm playing. So I person to benignant that out."