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This was explained by Sergio García in the Spanish newspaper Marca. Strong things.
I’m clear on what I’ll do with the European Tour, probably leave it at that. I want to play where they want me, I like to feel loved and honestly on the European tour I don’t feel loved now.
When Thomas Bjorn arrives at the BMW International Open and tells us “We don’t want any of you and all the players to say that,” well, I’m old enough and I’m suffering enough to endure nonsense like this.
I have what I have and I am very happy with it and I want to enjoy it to the fullest. I will play less, I will be more at home.
But honestly, I don’t care much either. I’m sorry about the Ryder Cup, but for how I’m playing, I wouldn’t be for the Ryder either. My resignation is not official, but I will make it effective.
Updated at 16.38 BST
Cameron Young goes to pick him up from the 9th tee and throws him to the left. You may have just cleared a thick concentration of gooseberry bushes. Someone who hasn’t done it is Adam Scott, who has all sorts of helpers shuffling the foliage to get his ball on the 12th. Good luck with that. Cameron Smith finds the fairway at 9 p.m. In fact, Young fined the thick stuff, so that’s a penalty kick. He will play his third, so he still has a chance to save the pair.
Back at 8, McIlroy and Hovland get pairs of two putts. Rory is two minutes away from the field.
Thanks Matt. Rory reminds me of an athlete in a 1500m race. He knows that, on this route, he is the best runner in the field and can cover any break. He was on pace in the first lap, kept Cameron Smith in his sights when the Australian hit the second lap and went with Viktor Hovland in the third lap when the Norwegian shot early. They’ve grabbed the bell and now McIlroy is looking to relax so he can make a Steve Ovett-style gesture down the finish line.
He just played a safe shot in the heart of the 8th green par-3. Bird out of opportunity.
Updated at 16.31 BST
4.27 pm BST classification board
Cameron Young is hanging around. Remember that the top four have the short 9th and 10th par-quat to come. And with that, we get back to Dave. -17: McIlroy (7) -15: Hovland (7), Young (8) -14: Smith (8) -13: Scott (11)
The unmade bed of the seventh green is no problem for Rory McIlroy. Negotiate humps and gaps to establish a safe pair. Ahead of him, Cameron Smith did the same, as did Viktor Hovland, but Cameron Young’s aggressive approach from the tee takes away the reward of a bird.
Wow! Sergio Garcia has said he will leave the DP World Tour and has added to the Spanish press that Thomas Bjorn told him that LIV golfers were not wanted.
The unmade bed look of the Old Course greens is very clear in the 7th. A messy quilt spine is on the laying surface and will make life difficult for both Cameron Young and Cameron Smith when they make a putt for the eagle and the bird respectively.
Short drama for four! Rory McIlroy grabs his putter for his second shot on the 6th of 414 yards. It’s a roller coaster effort that leaves him looking like a bird but not so close, and he doesn’t fall. Then, Cameron Young throws a ball to the green in the 7th par-four of 371 yards. Jordan Spieth makes birdie on the 10th to return to 12 below the week.
Rory McIlroy reacts after a lost putt in the 6th. Photography: Phil Noble / Reuters
Updated at 16.22 BST
Yes Woo Kim adopted McIlroy’s patient route, but stayed a little longer than ideal. The Korean calmed down through six holes, but a bird in the seventh has him next to Adam Scott, Tommy Fleetwood and Dustin Johnson at 12 and sharing fifth. The Englishman is about to pinch a shot to the head with a double breaking putt in the eighth, but it’s the same.
Here’s that wonderful Rory McIlroy shot in the heart of the 5th green. The game plan works so far: patience from 1 to 4, then take advantage of breaking opportunities from 5 to 12.
15.58 pm BST classification board
A two putts birdie for Rory McIlroy in 5th and Hovland misses his pair! It’s a two-shot advantage for Holywood’s best. -17: McIlroy (5) -15: Hovland (5) -14: Smith (5), Young (5) -12: Scott (8), Fleetwood (7), Johnson (7)
Updated at 16:00 BST
Golf ball magician Tommy Fleetwood is going in the right direction. A bird in the 7th, the second of the day, takes him 12 below during the week and tied for fifth.
A 340-yard hit from the tee leaves Rory McIlroy with 256 yards on the fifth green. Ahead of him, Cameron Young and Cameron Smith have done birdie to get two of their lead. Viktor Hovland had to get up. McIlroy is in a fluffy rough, throws the ball high, finds the middle of the green … and is 30 feet away. An eagle putt to come.
Jordan Spieth’s progress stops by a bogey on day 8. He falls into the top five and passes in the opposite direction Adam Scott, now three under for the day, 12 under the week, and sharing fifth with Dustin Johnson.
Rory McIlroy leads the No. 150 Open on his own after Viktor Hovland makes a bogey in the fourth. Remember the words of the Northern Irishman last night, when he said this is a good way to stay patient through the first four holes, because you know the chances will come. This starts with the next hole: the par-five. Time to take advantage.
Updated at 15.41 BST
Jordan Spieth is making a late offer for glory. He has four under seven with the three par-four shorts coming up very soon. He has 12 fewer during the week and tied fifth with Dustin Johnson.
Jordan Spieth is gaining strength. Photography: Richard Sellers / PA
Updated at 15.58 BST
15.31 h BST classification board
There is a platoon of 11 men in 11 under. Ahead of them, it looks like this: -16: McIlroy (3), Hovland (3) -13: Smith (4), Young (4) -12: Johnson (5)
McIlroy can’t turn his birdie chance into 3rd. He was only six feet tall, but the ball did not go down. Viktor Hovland’s effort went before him and he showed some frustration. A second setting of the day for Dustin Johnson in 5th sees him join Cameron Young in fourth.
Cameron Young has dropped from the peloton to 11 less. A first bird of the day has it alone in the fourth. The two leaders will have a good look at the birdie in 3rd in the next few minutes.
Cameron Young and his caddy. Photography: Andrew Boyers / Reuters
Updated at 15.36 BST
It has been a fantastic month for Filippo Celli. The Italian fan has signed for a total of 71 and five less than he deserves the Silver Medal to end the week as an amateur bass on the field. He is the first Italian winner since Matteo Manassero in 2009 (with whom his coach Alberto Binaghi also worked). Celli has said he hopes to play the Ryder Cup in Rome next year. You may need to get on your bike (or Vespa) to achieve this feat.
Updated at 15.19 BST
How important is it for Viktor Hovland to reach the heights of golf for Norway? When I chatted with Norwegian fans yesterday I was told that he is part of a golden generation of stars from his nation, excelling in sports, the country has little experience of doing well. Like Erling Haaland (football), Casper Ruud (tennis) and Karsten Warholm (athletics).
Viktor Hovland scores the second. Photography: Tom Jenkins / The Guardian
Updated at 15.23 BST
That’s how Cameron Smith reached 13 less for the championship. Behind him, no more and no less than eight men are tied for fourth place in 11 less.
Tyrrell Hatton is in tears. English has advanced to the majors this year, talking about Augusta National at the Masters, the greens at Southern Hills and the slow pace earlier this week. Today he is four below to seventh, making him fourth tied in the standings (11 below). Jordan Spieth joins him with a third birdie of the day and Smith takes his chance to break the pair in the second to be three of the leaders.
McIlroy lands his approach safely to the green on the 1st. The putt briefly scared the hole, but left the Northern Irishman with an easy-to-touch pair. Hovland is much closer, about 18 feet, but hit him during the break. Another pair. Later, Cameron Smith has a chance for the bird in the second edition.
Updated at 15.09 BST
I recently reported that Cam Young spent most of his training time on the green. But his first action with the putter? Three stabs for his fifth bogey of the week.
Cameron Young lines up a putt on the 1st. Photography: Richard Sellers / PA
Updated at 14.57 BST
Here we come. Rory McIlroy is called forward to the first tee and a burst of applause erupts from the stands. A simple clip for the famous wide fairway and avoids a divot. Viktor Hovland takes a swing and hits it … Rory tries to get hold of the ball but it slips out of his hands. The game begins. They are far away.
Patience could be key during the early holes for Rory McIlroy. That’s what he said last night about the nature of the course.
It’s easy to have patience out there, especially the first few holes because you know there are possibilities. You have the par-five. We have three or four pilotables.
I think with how controlled I am and how much belief I have in myself right now, maybe it’s a little easier to stay patient.
Both Cameron, Smith and Young, are out. No hassle from the first tee. Can any of them emulate the 65 that Abraham Ancer and Sadom Kaewkanjana have given to, briefly, place them among the top five? A replay for the pair currently tying third would put pressure on the joint leaders.
Thanks Dave. I’ll start today with a poster that tickled golf correspondent Ewan Murray. “Don’t throw away the confetti yet!” he laughed. “Typical Scots”.
Updated at 14.40 BST
An eagle in 14 by Italian fan Filippo Celli. Surely it must be the sewn Silver Medal. With five under, Celli is now six shots away from his closest amateur rival, Aaron Jarvis, who finished at +1.
With Tommy Fleetwood …