SHOT OF THE DAY: John Parry made the first hole-in-one at this British Open, an 8-iron on the par-3 13th hole. SAVE OF THE DAY: Scheffler was buried in deep rough behind the 11th green when he chopped it out to 10 feet and made par.

Reality says Rory McIlroy isn’t going to hoist the Claret Jug on the 18th hole on Sunday evening here to deafening roars from the home fans.

Rory McIlroy stared at his card behind the 18th green and smiled the smile of a golfer who knew he’d had a day to remember at the British Open.

Rory McIlroy’s third-round charge at the British Open has been derailed in bizarre fashion after he unwittingly performed a trick shot at the 11th hole.

PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland — Rory McIlroy gave the home crowds exactly what they craved on Saturday: He used the traditional third-round “moving day’’ to make a move up the leaderboard. McIlroy, who began the day at 3-under par, seven shots behind leader Scottie Scheffler, activated the huge Portrush crowds with a third-round 5-under-par 66.

The final round of the 2025 Open Championship at Royal Portrush will feature Scottie Scheffler trying to convert a four-shot lead into his first Claret Jug and fourth career major title. Scheffler put distance between himself and the field with a Saturday 67 to reach 14 under, four clear of Haotong Li (-10) in second.

Scottie Scheffler is once again out in front with a massive lead. The top-ranked golfer in the world cruised through Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland on Saturday and broke open what felt like a very easy four-shot lead over the field.

Bryson DeChambeau left the windswept links at Royal Portrush somewhat bashed up after a tough first round at the British Open and said to himself: "I want to go home."