Rose and Brown one back as Horschel leads The Open

English brace Justin Rose and Dan Brown are 1 changeable down leader American Billy Horschel aft a melodramatic 3rd information of The Open astatine rain-lashed Royal Troon.

Horschel, playing successful nan worst of nan conditions, someway fashioned a two-under-par 69 to amended to 4 under.

Rose and Brown are among six players, including US PGA Championship victor Xander Schauffele, connected 3 under, while world number 1 Scottie Scheffler is astatine 2 under.

Ireland's Shane Lowry, who led connected 7 nether aft 2 rounds, collapsed to a six-over 77, his troubles starting pinch a double-bogey 5 connected nan notoriously difficult Postage Stamp eighth.

He past had 5 bogeys connected nan backmost nine, his last 1 coming aft he deed his 2nd changeable into nan grandstand down nan correct of nan 18th.

But astatine 1 nether par and pinch much rainfall forecast to disrupt nan last round, nan 2019 champion is still successful contention.

World number 272 Brown has defied likelihood and anticipation since starring connected time one. And he looked poised to lead into nan last information erstwhile he birdied nan par-five 16th to get to six under.

However, he bogeyed nan par-three 17th aft uncovering a bunker disconnected nan tee and past deed a six astatine nan par-four past aft again uncovering sand.

His two-over-par 73 was nan aforesaid arsenic that of Rose and they will commencement Sunday conscionable 1 backmost arsenic they look to go nan first Englishman since Sir Nick Faldo successful 1992 to triumph The Open.

Rose, who had 3 bogeys and 1 birdie successful a typically gutsy round, gave a immense fist pump aft holing a six-footer for par astatine nan last.

South African Thriston Lawrence and Americans Sam Burns and Russell Henley are besides 1 changeable disconnected nan lead aft making their scores earlier nan rainfall group in. Lawrence played nan beforehand 9 successful six nether par arsenic nan precocious winds of nan opening 2 days abated. He signed for a 65, arsenic did Burns, while Henley changeable a 66.

There are six awesome champions successful nan apical 10 pinch Adam Scott and Justin Thomas astatine level par aft they excessively enjoyed easier early conditions to station 66 and 67 respectively.

More to follow.