TROON, Scotland — The British Open brought a final two hours of the worst weather to the world’s best players, and Billy Horschel was up for the fight.
Horschel flipped his cap around to keep rain from dripping off the bill. He played in short sleeves in a biting chill to swing more freely. He embraced everything about Saturday at Royal Troon on a day the course gave most players a royal beating.
He survived with a marvelous short game from pot bunkers and the rough, and he managed a 2-under 69 that gave him a one-shot lead going into a final round and his best shot at winning his first major.
“I’m excited to be here. I’ve wanted to be here my entire life,” he said. “I’m finally here.”
It was getting there Saturday that was so difficult, a third round that got turned upside down and every other possible way.
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Shane Lowry went from a three-shot lead to ninth place. Thriston Lawrence of South Africa and Sam Burns started the day 10 shots behind. Now they are among those one back.
PGA champion Xander Schauffele did his scoring in the rain and battled in the wind, shooting 69 to be among those one back. Justin Rose made 11 straight pars, and finished with one that prompted a big fist pump. He shot 73 and was one behind.
“I kind of felt like it was going to be the type of day where you could go out and post a score, and it turned into an absolute survival test out there,” Rose said.
Masters champion Scottie Scheffler was two behind, one of only two players yet to post a round over par this week.
“That’s the hardest nine holes I think you could ever play in golf right now,” said Dustin Johnson, a former world No. 1 with two majors. He shot 72 and was five behind.
There was rain at the start for the leading players, and then a tough wind into their faces on the brute of a back nine at Royal Troon.
Players couldn’t reach par 4s in two shots with a fairway metal. Some of them hit driver into the par-3 17th. Everyone was holding on by the seat of their pants. Scheffler, who missed his share of short putts, drilled a 3-wood into the 238-yard 17th to 2 feet for birdie, among the purest shots of the day.
“I probably don’t hit a 3-wood on a par 3 very often,” Scheffler said. “I probably don’t hit driver and a 3-wood really solid on a par 4 and don’t get there in two, either.”
