Ludvig Åberg carded a 5-under 65 on Saturday on the Genesis Scottish Open to steer by two photographs at 17-under. It was not his finest golf, however the younger Swede fought again down the stretch and knew he needed to shut properly if he needed to carry the solo lead.
Robert MacIntyre went low on Moving Day. He fired off a 7-under 63 to take a seat at 15-under. He had an unbelievable day and held the lead or co-lead all through the third spherical.
The RBC Canadian Open winner is trying to turn into the second Scot ever to win the nationwide open.
While MacIntyre performed properly, Åberg was in a position to bounce again and keep away from any expensive errors. He stored a clear card on the entrance with a birdie at one, three and 6. The former Texas Tech Red Raider added one other on the tenth earlier than dropping back-to-back photographs at 11 and 12.
“Not probably the most stress-free golf, but it surely was once more a superb rating, however I’m happy with the way in which I hung in there and completed it out,” Åberg stated.
Those two hiccups didn’t section him, as he made three birdies in his last six holes. The first got here at 13, which helped put some momentum again into his pocket.
“I used to be simply completely satisfied to have it on 13. I felt like I used to be swinging properly and hitting the putts the way in which I needed to, and I attempted to learn them,” he defined. “When a putt like that goes in on 13, it provides you a little bit little bit of an additional increase.”
As he got here down the stretch, Åberg knew precisely the place he was on the leaderboard. He enjoys trying out the place he’s and believes you will need to know what he has to do to get the job achieved.
“It makes you hungry, and it makes you keep on the entrance foot and be aggressive and felt like I did that properly as we speak,” Åberg stated.
There are simply 18 holes left for the 24-year-old, who might win his second PGA Tour victory in lower than a yr. Åberg’s first Tour win got here final November on the RSM Classic, the place he set scoring information.
This lead is the second time he was the lone man on high of the leaderboard. The final time got here at that RSM Classic win. Last yr’s champion, Rory McIlroy, and the 2022 winner, Xander Schauffele, have been additionally 54-hole leaders.
“It shall be enjoyable. Looks like I’m enjoying with Bob as properly, so will probably be a cool pairing,” Åberg stated. “It’s enjoyable to have a chance to win a golf match, particularly at a traditional place right here in Scotland, and I’m wanting ahead to it.”
He and MacIntyre will tee off Sunday at 10:40 a.m. ET. Can the Swedish phenom maintain off the pack and get that second PGA Tour victory, or will MacIntyre make historical past in his dwelling nation?
Savannah Leigh Richardson is a golf employees author for SB Nation’s Playing Through. For extra golf protection, comply with us @_PlayingThrough on all main social platforms. You can even comply with her on Twitter @SportsGirlSL and Instagram @golf_girl_sl.
