The Spaniard would certainly approve of McIlroy claiming number five at St Andrews. In the span of nearly eight, occasionally painful years, McIlroy has never come closer to achieving such a feat. He never looked more capable of achieving it. However, the 33-year-old will be aware – very well – of the difficult steps ahead of him. In Victor Hovland, who shares 16-under with McIlroy, the Northern Irishman has a formidable opponent. The duo exchanged blows like superstar boxers on day three here. Matching 66s felt perfectly fitting as McIlroy and Hovland separated themselves from the field. Not that it would be wise to discount all hypocrites completely. The scale of brilliance from Hovland and McIlroy just made it difficult to predict an alternate champion. Cameron Young and Cameron Smith are closest to the leaders at 12 under. Kim Si-woo is a shot further back, alongside world No.1 Scottie Scheffler. Kim’s 67 was this group’s lowest third-day score. If McIlroy emerges victorious, thoughts will turn to the pivotal moment of the third round. A bunker shot from about 30 yards is supposed to be the most difficult in golf. What a mockery of that concept at the 10th, where he holed out for an eagle. What’s with McIlroy and the major league sand traps? He jumped for joy at Augusta National having found the bottom of the cup on the 72nd hole from a greenside bunker. In Fife, McIlroy punched the air and applauded enthusiastically. Hovland had flown from the traps. The Norwegian rattled off four birdies in a row from the 3rd. McIlroy, who had missed opportunities, was the man under pressure. His response, courtesy of birdies at the 5th, 6th and 9th before heroics at the 10th, was that of a champion. Hovland and McIlroy are now at 15 under. McIlroy’s next advantage, won at the 14th, was canceled out on the penultimate hole. Hovland skilfully saved parity from a path. McIlroy, whose second shot was long enough to leave enough room for a backhand drive into the perimeter wall, could score no better than five. Both players reached the end, the scale of their mutual appreciation for what had transpired over the previous four and a quarter hours abundantly clear. Victor Hovland weighs a shell during his impressive third round. Photo: Robert Perry/EPA Dustin Johnson, the LIV rebel most likely to win the Open, is 12 under after twelve holes. He was within three of the lead. Bogeys at the 13th, 14th and 16th halted his charge. The former world No 1 finally made a birdie after a drive to the top, but at 10 under requires snooker. Tommy Fleetwood and Matt Fitzpatrick sit on nine under. Fleetwood turned in a 66. Tyrrell Hatton started the day at minus eight, but fell to 73. Hatton eyed the slow game of his partner, Talor Gooch, with murderous intent. This could prove to be a weekend to remember for Filippo Celli, the Italian amateur, who is in pole position to take the silver medal. Celli is four under after a 71. He has his eyes on a bigger prize next September in his home country. “I hope to be that Italian playing in the Ryder Cup in Rome,” Celli said. “It would be perfect.” Shane Lowry chipped in for an eagle on the 9th before repeating the feat on the very next hole. Such a scenario had not been played out in an Open since 2001. Lowry had reached nine under par at that point, meaning his finish at seven under was a disappointment. The 2019 champion believes he has “no chance” of a second Open victory. “I felt like in the middle of the front nine I was doing well, I wasn’t doing anything great,” Lowry explained. “Obviously it happened on 9 and 10 and I felt like I was in the tournament. “I’m pretty annoyed and pretty angry, to be honest. I keep telling myself and I keep saying you want to get to the back nine on a Saturday with a chance to do something great. I got there today and didn’t play. So that’s very disappointing.” Jordan Spieth’s 68 moved him to eight under. “I’ll probably take an ice bath tonight,” she said. “Ice baths are much harder in Scotland than in Memphis.” Spieth is lucky to only visit these shores in the summer. “I need a crazy monsoon to get there tomorrow to have a chance,” Spieth added. “Even if I shoot eight under, I still think I lose by more than three. I’m in a position where shooting seven or eight under would mean a very strong finish and I would gain a lot of momentum. There will be no “resignation”. It’s not like I’m in 45th place.” Quick guide

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Thanks for your response. Xander Schauffele birdied the last but two sixes on the back nine had already put paid to his chances. Schauffele sits at minus five. Jon Rahm and Will Zalatoris are in the same set. Justin Thomas’ birdie three on the 17th at 3.15pm. it was the first of the day on that famous hole, which played more like a par five. Ryder Cup teammates McIlroy and Hovland reached this point while still in the midst of open warfare. It was the most exciting sports theater.