Hero Open 2021 R3
August 05-08
Fairmont St Andrews, St Andrews, Fife, Scotland
€1,250,000
Round 1, Round 2, Round 4

Estimated reading time: 9 minutes

Grant Forrest and Calum Hill are tied for the lead at 18-under after the third round of the Hero Open at Fairmont St Andrews.

Hero Open 2021 R3

If either should win they would become the first home winner in Scotland on the European Tour since Paul Lawrie won the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles in 2012.

First round leader Calum Hill started the day three shots behind overnight leader Lucas Bjerregaard of Denmark but produced three birdies and an eagle at the par-5 3rd to make the turn in 31. He faltered with bogeys at the 10th and 14th then recovered with birdies at the 15th and 18th to close with a 67 joining Forrest in the lead.

Hero Open 2021 R3

"I played really nice," said Hill. "It was difficult to make putts when it got windy. I think that halted my score a little bit because today was my best ball-striking round but yeah, very happy.

"I'm very determined (to win). This is what you play for isn't it? I'm looking forward to it, especially with a home crowd and family watching. I'll be giving it my best."

Hero Open 2021 R3

Forrest started seven shots behind Bjerregaard and a bogey at the first did not bode well but he quickly turned it around with a birdie at the 3rd and four consecutive birdies from the 6th to make the turn in 32. He made six more birdies on the back nine to close with a 62 matching the course record set by Bjerregaard on Friday.

Hero Open 2021 R3

"It was one of those days – bogey start as well and you're thinking it's not an ideal start,"said Forrest. The first couple of days I played nicely but couldn't get anything going and didn't really make a putt. Today I changed my putting grip and made pretty much everything and I think Lucas' (Bjerregaard) putter has rubbed off on me a little bit. I just hit lots of really good putts today. It's tough making putts in that wind, you need a little bit of luck and I got that so I'm delighted.

"I've been feeling confident in my game so I'm just trying to trust that, and trust that the good scores are going to come along."

Spain's Santiago Tarrio lies in solo third place after a round of 67 marred by a single bogey.

"It was a difficult day with the strong wind on the final 12 or 13 holes. I didn't play good, but I made some birdie chances and made some par saves. I'll try to play the same golf tomorrow."

Bjerregaard had an unfortunate start with a double bogey at the par-4 2nd hole. He made four birdies and a bogey to make the turn in 35 then parred the back nine to close with a 71 and a share of fourth place at 16-under alongside Scot David Law who shot a bogey-free 66.

"It was a bit more of a battle than yesterday," said Bjerregaard. "I didn't play my best today, especially off the tee and then when the conditions are like this you don't get many looks at birdies. It got pretty windy on the back nine, I felt like I lost the grip on my putter a bit. Not great, but I'm still in the mix and it's nice to be here again.

"I definitely have a lot more confidence now than I had at the start of the week. It's always nice to produce a couple of good scores. It seems every event I 've been hanging around the cut line coming in on Friday and it's hard work and a grind and then I don't have a great weekend and finish low. It was nice to fly though and make the cut easy yesterday and not have to worry about that."

Hero Open 2021 R3