His eagle on the seventh and clutch par saves on the back nine solidified his position as the world No. 1 heads into the final round. The par-71 7381-yard course has tested players but Scheffler’s iron play and putting have kept him ahead of a packed leaderboard chasing the $17 million purse and Claret Jug.
Top Contenders in Pursuit
Matthew Fitzpatrick trails at -10 after a 69 struggling with a late bogey but staying in contention for his first Claret Jug. Haotong Li holds second at -11 with a 69 showing resilience despite a bogey on 18. Rory McIlroy electrified the home crowd with a 5-under 66 climbing to -8 alongside Chris Gotterup Harris English and Tyrrell Hatton. McIlroy’s eagle on the 12th sparked massive roars but he remains six shots back. Defending champion Xander Schauffele sits at -7 after a 68.
Final Round Stakes and Challenges
Scheffler’s pursuit of a fourth major and third leg of the career Grand Slam faces pressure from calm weather forecasts that could invite low scores. Fitzpatrick and Li must capitalize on early holes to close the gap while McIlroy hopes to harness crowd energy for a storybook win in Northern Ireland.
The course’s links-style rough and wind remain obstacles with players like Shane Lowry at -1 hampered by a two-stroke penalty in Round 3.
How to Follow the Action
Fans can track the final round through live coverage on NBC USA Network or Peacock starting at 4 a.m. ET. Real-time scores and tee times including Scheffler and Li at 14:30 BST and McIlroy with Fitzpatrick at 14:20 BST are available on theopen.com. Social media offers fan reactions but official sources ensure accurate updates as the Champion Golfer of 2025 is crowned.