9.45am Sunday (AEST): The Round 4 pairings for our Aussies and Kiwis are in – and they’re box office.

The hunted has become the hunter as Lucas Herbert scratched and clawed his way to a 1-over 71 to keep his hopes of a maiden major victory alive at The Open Championship.

Starting day three at Royal Birkdale Golf Club with a two-stroke lead, Herbert was tied at the top before he teed off, Kiwi Ryan Fox firing the third 8-under 62 in two days to match the lowest round in major championship history and ignite his tournament aspirations.

Herbert will start the final round three strokes back of American Sam Burns (65) and paired with Swede Ludvig Aberg in the third-to-last group, well within range to make a Sunday run at the Claret Jug.

The top of the leaderboard is littered with Australasian players with two former Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit winners in Fox and fellow Kiwi Kazuma Kobori, Herbert and four-time Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia winner Cameron John all inside the top 11. – Tony Webeck via golf.org.au

Round 4 tee times AEST

5:50pm            Min Woo Lee, Tyrrell Hatton
7:40pm            Adam Scott, Patrick Reed
10:05pm          Cameron John, Daniel Brown
1:15pm            Kazuma Kobori (NZ), Hideki Matsuyama 
11pm               Lucas Herbert, Ludvig Aberg 
11:20pm          Ryan Fox (NZ), Sam Burns

5:10am Sunday (AEST): Is this one of the greatest recovery shots in golf history? 

NBC’s broadcast team certainly felt so, and it’s hard to argue. After pulling his tee shot on No.17 well left and into a dune, Lucas Herbert was lucky to even find his golf ball. And after taking an unplayable penalty, it looked like he’d be lucky to even get his ball back in play. Instead, he took a violent lash and wound up nearly hitting the flagstick for a shot you have to see to believe:

Unfortunately for Herbert, he didn’t make the birdie putt, but still, what a par to stay in the hunt as he tries to win his maiden major title. – Alex Myers

5am Sunday (AEST): Bryson went full “performative” mode on 18. 

Rory McIlroy’s “performative” label on DeChambeau may have sounded harsh, but there was an element of truth to it. Bryson is the ultimate showman, as he’s proven time and time again. It doesn’t matter if it’s in the latest episode of “Breaking 50,” or in the middle of winning the US Open, he’s going to play to the crowd no matter what. 

The show went on, literally, at the 18th on Saturday, where DeChambeau was grinding out an impressive round to stay in contention. He pulled his drive into the left fescue, where the crowd began egging him on.

Here’s how Bryson arrived at his ball:

Surprised he didn’t do this on every single shot. Then again, not surprised he waited to do it until every last bit of attention was on him. 

Unfortunately, DeChambeau did go on to make bogey, but his one-under 69 has still given him a chance at the claret jug on Sunday. – Christopher Powers

4.30am Sunday (AEST): Even Scottie Scheffler is ironically fist pumping missed putts now. 

After three straight days of making almost nothing at the Open Championship, the World No.1 reached the end of his rope on Saturday evening. As Scheffler watched yet another six-footer slide by – this one for birdie on the par-5 17th – he raised his fist to the sky in some mixture of ironic celebration and triumphant protest.

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Scheffler was equally animated after tapping in for par, wildly gesticulately to caddie Ted Scott about the uneven tracking of the Royal Birkdale putting surfaces. Scheffler doesn’t generally wear his emotions on his sleeve, but has struggled mightily from outside of seven feet this week. Late Saturday, his patience finally seemed to run out.

The defending champion ultimately shot an even-par 70, and sits five back of leader Sam Burns heading into Sunday’s final round. However, if Scheffler wants to make a run at a second straight Claret Jug, he’ll first have to make nice with his flatstick. – Coleman Bentley

4:15am Sunday (AEST): Jon Rahm just saved par from his knees!

The Spaniard’s immense short-game talents were really put to the test on the 18th hole on Saturday. Unable to take a normal stance, Rahm dropped down to his knees and pulled off a sensational sand shot on his way to saving par and shooting a third-round 70. Have a look:

4am Sunday (AEST): Bookmark that drive on 11 from Lucas Herbert. 

After struggling over his first six holes, Herbert was able to right the ship with birdies on seven and nine to retake the lead. However, his driver leaked on the 11th and into a burn … only for his ball to rattle around each side of the hazard and pop up and land safely.

Incredibly, Herbert’s next shot also received a good bounce, seemingly heading long into the heather before taking a soft hop and coming down the slope, leading to a par. There aren’t many places in Birkdale to make a big number, so for Herbert to escape unscathed is something that could loom large the rest of the weekend. – Joel Beall

3:45am Sunday (AEST): “That was a moment.” 

Those expecting fireworks from Bryson DeChambeau on Saturday after everything that transpired Friday have not gotten their wish. However, DeChambeau is not out of the tournament, humming along at one-under for the round, six-under for the championship. Things could have gotten away from him at the par-3 12th, though, where the pin is tucked on the right behind a dune and the wind is off the right. It’s the type of shot nobody is taking on, opting to bail out way left. DeChambeau, naturally, took it on, coming up miles short into a pot bunker, leaving him with a 10 out of 10 on the difficulty scale bunker shot over the dune. –

Bryson blasted one out to 11 feet, then drained the par putt. “That was a MOMENT,” remarked Paul McGinley on the NBC broadcast. It did feel like a big swing, especially with both of Royal Birkdale’s par 5s lurking, and the lead remaining in single digits. – Christopher Powers

3.30am Sunday (AEST) Herbert clings on to Open lead on tight moving day

Lucas Herbert was left still clinging on to his British Open lead halfway through his third round at Royal Birkdale on a day when New Zealander Ryan Fox lit up the Championship with another record-equalling 62.

Just as Herbert, the overnight leader by two shots, had equalled the lowest round ever recorded at a men’s major championship on Friday, Fox became the third man at Royal Birkdale this week to shoot a landmark eight-under round of 62 on Saturday.

Fox’s early brilliance meant that by the time Herbert was the last to tee off, he had already been caught at eight-under by his trans-Tasman colleague.

Then as ‘moving day’ unfolded on the Lancashire links, 30-year-old Herbert was initially knocked out of first place as his pursuers began to make a move, only to regroup after dropping a shot at the third hole to reach the turn in one-under and move back to the head of the leaderboard at nine-under.

As he moved into the inward half of his round, the Australian LIV star was one shot clear of Fox and Sam Burns, the other member of the ’62 club’ who’d also shot an eight-under round on Friday.

Just a shot behind them were charging local hero Tommy Fleetwood, Korean Si Woo Kim, Cameron Young and Herbert’s US playing partner Jackson Suber, who were all on seven under going into the day’s business end. – Ian Chadband | AAP

2:30am Sunday (AEST): The Rory McIlroy-Bryson DeChambeau feud explodes!

Following a one-under 69 on Day 3, Rory McIlroy lamented not making more of a move up the leaderboard before being asked about Bryson DeChambeau’s controversial penalty.

“I was watching it live. I was up in the players lounge watching it with a few other players, and as soon as he made the step into the ball, we all sort of looked at each other, and we were like, that didn’t seem right,” McIlroy said. “Then when I heard that he was called in by the rules officials, I think we all – it was pretty obvious for why.

“I think there’s no doubt that he improved the line of his backswing. Again, it’s like, whether it was careless or whether it was intentional, I don’t think it matters. Hopefully it was careless, but I think the two-shot penalty was justified for sure.” 

As Australian Golf Digest detailed, the scenes following the R&A’s decision Friday night bordered on the surreal. McIlroy was watching from home, and was not a fan of what he was seeing. 

“Yeah, look, I won’t pretend to be up here and defend Bryson. I’m not particularly fond of him. I think a lot of it’s performative. I think a lot of it’s for attention,” McIlroy said. 

“To hold the tournament hostage like that, and to have all of us, players, volunteers, everyone waiting on him to depart, I didn’t feel like it was a great look.” – Joel Beall

1:40am Sunday (AEST): Can your playing partners affect your score? 

Brad Faxon certainly thinks so. And he believes Scottie Scheffler got a bad draw playing the first two days with Bryson DeChambeau and Tyrrell Hatton, who he described on NBC as “two guys who are difficult to play with.” The eight-time PGA Tour winner added, “It’s almost like a two-stroke penalty.” Ouch.

Scheffler entered the weekend at four-under par through 36 holes. He’s playing with Francesco Molinari at Royal Birkdale on Saturday. – Alex Myers

1:30am Sunday (AEST): One of the PGA Tour’s most thoughtful players has come to Bryson DeChambeau’s defence. 

There are plenty opinions circulating about the two-shot penalty DeChambeau received on Friday evening after his second round, but one worth highlighting came from Max Homa. The former King of Golf Twitter weighed in on the controversy surrounding the sport’s content king by saying – among other things – that he didn’t agree with the ruling and that DeChambeau “would never cheat the game of golf.”

It won’t give him back those two shots, but Bryson has to feel better knowing he’s getting some support from his fellow competitors. – Alex Myers

1am Sunday (AEST): Nick Faldo just fired another shot in his cold war of words with Bryson DeChambeau. 

Before Friday’s run-in with some tall grass and R&A rules officials, Bryson DeChambeau’s biggest beef at Birkdale this week was with Nick Faldo. In the build-up to the 154th Open Championship, Faldo said DeChambeau “zero clue” of links golf strategy. DeChambeau clapped back after a strong opening round and on Saturday, Sir Nick made sure to let everyone know that it’s all good, they’re friends actually!

After Friday’s fesue fiasco, however, Faldo decided to poke the bear again, saying on Sky Sports, “Bryson wants to be the centre of attention and everything … I’ve got to believe it’s [the drama surrounding the rules incident] another hurdle to climb.”

A classic case of the pot calling the kettle black, but perhaps that’s the real reason for the pair’s simmering disdain for each other: They’re actully TOO much alike.

Pop psychology aside, we’ll see if DeChambeau chirps back or is as focused as he says he is. If he resists the bait, it might be the surest sign yet that he’s put the controversy behind him and is ready to contend for the Claret Jug. – Coleman Bentley

12am Sunday (AEST): Make it three 62s at Royal Birkdale in a little more than 24 hours. 

Ryan Fox did the honours on Saturday, making nine birdies and a bogey to not become the sixth golfer to share the all-time men’s 18-hole scoring mark in a major, but grab a share of the Open lead with Lucas Herbert at eight-under. Like Herbert on Friday, Fox had a look at a putt for a 61 to break the record. Mind you, it was 47½  feet, compared to Herbert’s five, but given the fact his drive on the hole ended up in a fairway bunker, reaching the green in two was an accomplishment. Here’s how close Fox came to becoming the first to shoot a 61:

– Ryan Herrington

12pm Saturday (AEST): Bryson makes call on weekend participation

It looks like Bryson DeChambeau will most certainly be playing this weekend in the Open Championship. 

After Friday’s rules issue that cost DeChambeau two strokes, discerning lip-readers believe that DeChambeau said to R&A officials that he wasn’t going “to play tomorrow.” A wild statement, given that DeChambeau, even with the penalty shots, trails leader Lucas Herbert by only three strokes.

DeChambeau then went out and pounded balls on the range into well after dark. Seemingly cooled down, DeChambeau did a short post on X confirming that he’d continue to go on.

And we might have trouble sleeping tonight in anticipation of what a spectacle it could be at Birkdale on Saturday with the pro- and anti-Bryson camps showing up in full throat. 

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11:40pm (AEST): The most disappointing 62 in major championship history? 

Lucas Herbert might have a claim to it after his finish on Friday at Royal Birkdale. The 30-year-old Aussie had made nine birdies on his opening 17 holes and only needed a par on the 18th hole to shoot a 61 and break the men’s major 18-hole scoring mark. But he walked off with a bogey when he missed a five-footer for par after a wayward drive put the record in jeopardy. 

Now he can claim the sixth 62 in a men’s major, joining Brendan Grace (2017 Open Championship, third round, Birkdale); Rickie Fowler (2023 US Open, first round, LACC); Xander Schauffele (2023 US Open, first round, LACC); Xander Schauffele (2024 PGA, first round, Valhalla); and Shane Lowry (2023 PGA, third round, Valhalla). Sam Burns would join him just 15 minutes later, signing off for a 62 of his own that was kind of missed by everyone in all the Herbert hoo-ha.

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11:31pm (AEST): Nick Faldo responds to Bryson DeChambeau’s ‘strategy’ response . . . to Nick Faldo
We’re having a good old-fashioned response-off between a pair of major champions at the Open Championship this week.

Nick Faldo began this curious back-and-forth with Bryson DeChambeau by making comments on the Sky Sports Golf Podcast ahead of the tournament. The six-time major champ didn’t hold back regarding Bryson’s links golf strategy – or lack thereof.

“He has – I’d say it to his face – he has zero clue of strategy,” Faldo said.

Only it doesn’t appear he has said it to DeChambeau’s face. And after the two-time US Open champ shot 67 on Thursday, he responded to Faldo’s comments in a cheeky manner, using some form of the word “strategy” three times in one answer.

And on Friday, Faldo stoked the flames again by releasing a video message in which he stands by his original comments. However, he also noted that DeChambeau played smartly on Thursday, that he’s a big fan of Bryson and that the two text throughout the season. Have a look and listen:

OK then.

It should also be noted that DeChambeau broke a record at last year’s Open for a 54-hole span by shooting 65-68-64. And then added 67 on Thursday. So, whatever strategy he’s using seems to be working. – Alex Myers

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11:00pm (AEST): Matt Fitzpatrick was never winning this golf tournament. 

Expectations can be a helluva drug, and not the kind that makes you feel good. Coming into the week, Fitzy was playing some of the best golf of his life, making him a popular betting pick. There is no worse place to be. Just checked the “most tipped” chart from the Golf Tips Checker Twitter/X account, which tracked over 350 tips from 50 different sources in in the golf betting community (including our big brothers at US Golf Digest):

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This is the last chart you want to see yourself on. More proof that the “public” being all over you is the kiss of death. Fitz, who made a birdie at the 11th that got him closer to the cut line on Friday, promptly made a double at the next hole to drop to four over. Unless he has, at minimum, three more birdies (probably needs four) and no bogeys in him the rest of the way, he will be headed home early. Other highly-tipped golfers on that chart include Wyndham Clark and Tom Kim, who both appear destined for a MC, too.  – Christopher Powers

RELATED: Min Woo’s putting switch pays off at Royal Birkdale

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9:00pm (AEST): Lucas Herbert enters the history books!
Australian Lucas Herbert has made a dramatic, record-equalling morning move in the second round of the Open Championship at Royal Birkdale to shoot to the top of the leaderboard.

The LIV golfer from Bendigo, five off the pace overnight sitting at level par, took advantage of perfect scoring conditions on the Lancashire links on Friday morning, equalling the lowest nine-hole score in Open history with a six-under 28.

Herbert’s six birdies in nine holes equalled the 28 also set at Birkdale by Englishman Denis Durnian 43 years earlier.

From nowhere, it meant the Victorian had raced straight to the top of the leaderboard at six-under, one shot clear of the overnight leader, American Jackson Suber, who was on five under after 14 holes.

It was a remarkable passage of play from the in-form Herbert, who revealed earlier in the week at Southport how the uncertainty surrounding the future of LIV Golf had taken a toll on him, and even made him consider his future in the sport.

The 30-year-old Victorian opened up by holing a 16-foot birdie putt at the first, and followed with a 15-footer at the second. He chased that spectacular start with a tee shot to five feet at the short third to move immediately to three under.

On Thursday, none of the seven Australian golfers had been able to break par, but Herbert was eagerly cashing in on the mild morning conditions on a baking links course that he had described as being like “playing a game of country cricket out on a real rural oval”.

Lucas Herbert only managed to break even in the first round at Royal Birkdale. (EPA PHOTO)

On the 326-yard fifth, Herbert’s bold attack on the par-four meant his drive nestled up at the side of the green, and he nearly chipped in for an eagle, coming up an inch short as he settled for birdie number four.

At the short seventh, he didn’t threaten the pin with his tee shot, finishing some 36 feet away, but he holed the putt nonetheless to take the outright lead for the first time.

At the ninth, Herbert putted from the fringe from 25 feet to make it six birdies in nine holes, lying a shot clear of Suber and another American, Bud Cauley. – Ian Chadband | AAP

UPDATE (9:35pm): Herbert has kept his hot run going, now sitting at eight-under and two shots ahead of the field.

MORE OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP COVERAGE HERE

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8:20pm: Is it the British Open or the Open Championship? The name of the final men’s major of the golf season is a subject of continued discussion. The event’s official name, as explained in this op-ed by former R&A chairman Ian Pattinson, is the Open Championship. So that’s what we like to go with here at Australian Golf Digest.