American Brian Harman held his nerve with a third-round 69 to steer the British Open by 5 pictures as Spaniard Jon Rahm soared into rivalry with a course-record 63 at Hoylake on Saturday.

Harman, searching for his first main title, dropped two pictures within the first 4 holes earlier than birdies on the fifth, ninth, twelfth and thirteenth took him to 12 beneath par, 5 forward of American Cameron Young and 6 away from Rahm.

World quantity three Rahm conjured up eight birdies in an impressive show of ball-striking to present himself an opportunity to win his third main crown and second of the yr.

READ | Brian Harman fires 65, takes commanding lead at The Open

“That’s the best round I’ve played on a links golf course ever,” Rahm informed reporters.

“Honestly, I’m just going to enjoy the afternoon with my family. There’s nothing to be done. I’ve done a lot of good work this week to give myself an opportunity.”

Young, runner-up at St Andrews final yr, quietly picked up six birdies on the way in which to a 66.

“My iron play has been great,” he informed reporters. “I’ve just hit a lot of greens and given myself plenty of chances. Honestly, I’ve putted really nicely too.”

Norway’s Viktor Hovland shot 66 to maneuver to 5 beneath, stage with Frenchman Antoine Rozner, Austrian Sepp Straka, Australian Jason Day and Tommy Fleetwood whose hopes of changing into the primary English winner of the Open for 31 years light with a 71.

World quantity two Rory McIlroy collected three early birdies earlier than shedding momentum en path to a 69 and at three beneath par his hopes of claiming a fifth main title on the scene of his 2014 Open triumph are hanging by a thread.

Indian Shubhankar Sharma compiled a tidy 70 to complete at 4 beneath, stage with England’s Alex Fitzpatrick who carded 65 to complete two pictures forward of his brother Matt, the 2022 U.S. Open champion.

Defending champion Cameron Smith of Australia made a battling 68 to finish on one beneath, however world primary Scottie Scheffler wanted two late birdies to finish a 72 and end at 4 over.

American Scheffler admitted his probabilities of claiming a second main crown had been slim.

“Unless a hurricane happens this afternoon,” he stated. “A hurricane and then some I think is what it’s going to take for me to win.”