On a Saturday of exquisite golf because without a severe wind the courses from two centuries ago have difficulty protecting themselves from the unstoppable technological escalation, Tyrrell Hatton snatched the Dunhill Links lead from Nicolas Colsaerts by one stroke, awaiting Sunday’s outcome on the Old Course at St. Andrews
Hatton did it thunderously. He shot 61 shots in the cradle of golf, with nine birdies and an eagle, in a memorable performance. He equaled the course record with a razor-sharp putt and some flag shots that found their zenith on the 17th hole, the road hole, the most symbolic of the great Scottish stage, which he stopped five feet from the hole. This shot occurred in full charge, making six birdies in the last seven holes.
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The happiness of the lieutenant of the XIII Legion was complete. Furthermore, for the first time in teams, his father, with whom he plays a duo, made the final cut of the 20 couples that play on the last day in St. Andrews. They had tried it a couple of times without luck, but this time there was no discussion because it was a recital. Between the two of them they scored 17 under par in 18 holes, with two eagles (one taking advantage of his father’s handicap on hole 1) and 13 birdies. Hatton is chasing the third individual victory at the Dunhill Links, which no one has achieved until now.
Colsaerts, meanwhile, continues his sweet week after having disappeared from the forefront of golf since the pandemic. The Belgian, who is a wonderful hitter as he demonstrated in the Ryder Cup in Medinah in 2012, achieved an albatross on the 16th hole (par 5), the seventh of his round, by holing out from the fairway with the second shot taking advantage of the wind at favor of Kingsbarns. Then he took a double bogey and that made him sign the third 65 of the week, each one on a different course.
At seven, as the best Spaniards – only Jorge Campillo and Adrián Otaegui, in addition, made the cut – are David Puig and Jon Rahm, in seventh position. The one from Barrika also scored 65, with seven hits in St. Andrews, none in the par 5s, sections that he missed which prevented him from having more serious options to fight for the title with his teammate. Jon’s profitable day was responded to by David Puig, with whom he will play in the final round like the previous Sunday at the Acciona Open in Spain.
Jon Rahm, on the third day of Dunhill LinksGetty Images
Puig did it at Kingsbarns with nine birdies and one bogey. Clearly, those who played Carnoustie on Saturday were hurt the most because it was the stage where the wind affected the most, so much so that Thorbjorn Olesen’s 66 was the best of the day. The Catalan, who will also play in Sotogrande in the Estrella Damm Andalucía Masters like Rahm, made six birdies in the last 10 holes.
Among the 20 amateur players who, pairing with professionals, made the final cut, will be former Broncos quarterback John Elway and Gareth Bale. The Welsh winger suffered a funny mishap when a dog caught his ball.
