Shane Lowry shot a disappointing 77 yesterday but is still firmly in the mix, three shots behind Billy Horschel.
Lowry, who gained more than five strokes on the field putting in rounds one and two combined, had a dismal day on the greens yesterday, sitting just one spot ahead of Scottie Scheffler in strokes gained.
Lowry is a major champion, a multiple-time Ryder Cupper and an excellent player, but he is prone to some stinker rounds in majors. Saturday was his 27th making either one or no birdies in the majors since 2010.
In that span, only three players have more.
It’s not unprecedented for a player to hold a 36-hole lead in a major, have a tough Saturday in difficult conditions and still win.
The last player to hold the Friday night lead, shoot 77 or worse in round three and still win that major was Nick Faldo at the 1989 Masters.
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Open Championship Round 3 analysis: What to know about Billy Horschel, Shane Lowry, more
