The 138th Open, Turnberry
Date: 16-19 July
Coverage: Live TV coverage on BBC Two, Online and the Red Button, live on Radio 5 Live and text commentary online on all four days
Highlights - McIlroy almost holes out on 6th Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy picked up birdies on his last three holes to salvage a four-over 74 after a dismal start to the third round of the Open. The 20-year-old dropped five shots over the first five holes and is well off the pace at seven over for the event. England's Justin Rose birdied the 18th to finish one over for the day and two over for the competition. Compatriot Luke Donald shot a solid par-70, balancing birdies on the 1st and 17th with a double bogey at 9. The world number 28 will head into the final day at Turnberry on three over. McIlroy was downbeat when asked if he believed he could still mount a last-day challenge. "Not really. I struggled all week to be honest and I struggled last week," he said. "I knew coming in here there were a lot of guys who had a better chance of winning this tournament than me. "I still feel it is too early for me to win a major. I have a lot of improving to do and maybe in a couple of years' time I can talk about it." Graeme McDowell, the event's leading Northern Irishman after the first two rounds, was a shot under par at the turn, but lost momentum with a pair of double bogeys on the way home. He finished on 71 to move to two over par.  | 606: DEBATE |
A eventful round for Chris Wood saw the Englishman score three birdies and five bogeys on his way to a 72 that puts him two over for the tournament. England's Oliver Wilson joins Donald on three over after posting a one-over 71. After a double bogey on the 1st followed by dropped shots at 3 and 4, David Howell clawed his way back for a two-over round that also leaves him three over. Nick Dougherty was another slow starter with a run of bogeys between 2 and 4, but steadied himself to finish the day three over. After beginning the event with two level-par rounds, he joins a host of players on three over. But Paul Broadhurst's hopes of closing into contention faded as he fell back to six over following a 74 that featured four bogeys between 10 and 14. Paul Casey, who opened his tournament with a two-under round, also endured a difficult day in blustery conditions. The Englishman opened with three successive bogeys but managed to battle his way back to the clubhouse in 74 to ensure he strayed no further than eight over par. | I love the course - I just wish I was playing better |
"A very difficult course on a very difficult day," he said. "If you don't have control of your ball and try to guide it in any way you are going to be penalised. I love the course - I just wish I was playing better. It just beats you up." David Drysdale, one of only two Scots to survive into the weekend, had a double bogey on the 16th hole as a costly blemish on a back nine that contained eight pars. But a three-over front nine leaves him with plenty to do at seven over par for the event following his third-round 75. England's Graeme Storm is one shot further back after a four-over round of 74. After his round, the 31-year-old criticised the set-up of the greens, highlighting the 15th as the worst on the course. "You accept it's a major championship and you know there are going to be some dodgy flag positions but when you get a silly, silly, silly one like that it just highlights it even more," he told BBC Sport. "It's a shame because the rest of the organisation of the championship is great. It has to be because the people who put the flags out don't do it week in, week out, like we have on the European Tour." Former champion and the last British winner of the tournament Paul Lawrie slumped back to 10 over after a 76. Northern Ireland's Darren Clarke's faint title hopes were extinguished as he also tumbled to 10 over for the tournament.
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