The Open: Scottie Scheffler admits victory hopes are over after disappointing week at Royal Liverpool | Golf News

Scotty Scheffler struggled with a third round 72 at The Open to finish four over behind for the tournament; Former Masters champion will miss out on major win in 2023; Watch the final round of Royal Liverpool live on Sky Sports Golf on Sunday at 8am

Scottie Scheffler joked that even a storm would not be enough to win the 151st Open after sliding down the leaderboard with another disappointing performance at Royal Liverpool.

The world No. 1 became one of the pre-tournament favorites after five consecutive top-five finishes, including a third-place finish at the Genesis Scottish Open last week, but struggled in the final men’s major of the year.

Scheffler followed an opening round 70 with a four-over 75 on Friday, where he made four bogeys in a six-hole stretch and needed a lucky last-hole birdie to make the cut, the former Masters champion was confused again during a one-over 72 on Saturday morning.

Scotty Scheffler has won the WM Phoenix Open and The Players so far this year

The American birdied two of his last three holes to enter at four over par, but still finished 14 strokes behind halfway clubhouse leader Brian Hermann, with Scheffler’s record finish of worse than 12th in any event since October now in jeopardy.

When asked if he could still challenge for another major title, Scheffler said: “Win? Unless there’s a storm this afternoon! A storm and then some I guess that’s what it’ll be like for me.”

“I’m just going to go out tomorrow and do my best and get on the leaderboard and try to have a good day. I obviously wish I played a lot better today, but struggled a bit in the end.”

Fowler was called a “coward” by fans for his contempt of Leeds United!

The best early starts came from potential Ryder Cup teammates Patrick Cantlay and Rickie Fowler, who posted bogey-free 67s to return to par for the tournament.

Fowler recently pulled out of joining Leeds United’s proposed investment through the 49ers group, along with Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas, with the 2014 runner-up receiving a bit of criticism from the Hoylake crowd for not being involved in the deal.

Rickie Fowler capped off Saturday with a four-under 67 after rounds of 72 and 73

“Besides maybe a ‘coward’ remark here or there, 99.9 percent [of fans] Amazing,” Fowler said of the English crowd. “But wherever you go, you deal with it. Same is the case in the states.

“The fans here, it’s always fun to come in front of them to play links golf. I feel like they really appreciate golf, proper golf shots and playing golf in the conditions and know that getting a ball on the green is also a great shot, no matter where it comes from.”

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Jordan Spieth has revealed that Rickie Fowler has pulled his name from the 49ers group that took over Leeds United, subject to an EFL investigation. Spieth and Justin Thomas bought shares in the 49ers group and are excited about the club’s future.

Regarding his reasons for not being involved with Leeds, Fowler said, “Hopefully everything goes well with JT.” [Justin Thomas] and Jordan [Spieth] being involved.

“My financial team didn’t give the necessary advice on this, so we decided not to move forward with it. I hope they play well and things turn around, because I know JT and Jordan will be very happy about it.”

Catch the 151st Open live all week exclusively on Sky Sports. Live coverage continues on Sky Sports Golf from 8am on Sunday. Stream The Open and more now for £21 a month,