Portrush, Northern Ireland. Bogey avoidance. The two aforementioned words define the high quality golf that Scottie Scheffler consistently produces.

The number-one player on the planet started the third round of the 153rd Open Championship with a one-stroke lead.

The 29-year-old left the golf course with a four-shot cushion courtesy of one powerful fact – no blemishes of bogey or worse on his scorecard.

Scheffler finished the round with a four-under-par 67 – good for a three-day total of 199 and a four-shot lead over his closest pursuer Haotong Li of China who scored a 69. Third place is held by Englishman Matt Fitzpatrick (71) at 204 and three golfers — Rory McIlroy (66), Chris Gotterup (68), Tyrell Hatton (68) and Harris English (68) – are one additional shot back at 205.

This is Scheffler’s largest 54-hole lead in a major — he was up by three shots at the PGA Championship and three shots in the 2022 Masters. In each of those instances he secured wins. Scheffler’s final round four shot lead also matches the same margin Shane Lowry had when he won the 2019 Open at Royal Portrush six years ago.

In golf the issue is not how many great golf shots you execute but how many poor ones you avoid. And Scheffler is a master in making sure he leaves few openings for his rivals to exploit.

How good at bogey avoidance has Scheffler been in this year’s Open. He’s made only three total for the 53 holes played at Royal Portrush. In fact, he’s played the last 25 holes without a single bogey.

Scheffler’s assessment was simply matter-of-fact acknowledgement. “I think any time you can keep a clean card around a major championship, you’re going to be having a pretty good day.”

No doubt – the understatement of the championship.

Catching Scheffler presents a formidable challenge. Rory McIlroy knows full well the kind of golf game the Texan has but remains hopeful that a repeat performance of his quick start to the third round when he began with three birdies in the first four holes will get the enthusiastic Irish crowd juices flowing again.

McIlroy began Saturday’s third round seven shots behind Scheffler but even after scoring a 66 the Ulsterman picked up just one shot.

The Scheffler approach has been to seal himself off from what others are doing and simply focus on his high-level execution. What’s aiding Scheffler is putting prowess that has been front and center throughout. During Saturday’s round he made crucial par putt saves – two of the three coming on the inward nine.

No championship is decided after 54 holes. A final round can produce a range of varying situations and how the lead contenders handle them will ultimately decide the final result.

What is clear is that Scheffler is now within range of claiming his second major of the year and should that margin remain or grow to four shots or more he will match what only Ben Hogan (1953) and Tiger Woods (2000) achieved in claiming major titles by such victory margins.

Scheffler’s mindset is clear with one round to play.

“I’m just trying to execute, not overthinking things,” Scheffler said. “I feel like I’ve been doing the right thing so far, and I’m looking forward to the challenge of tomorrow.”

Those attempting to catch the sport’s top player have a high mountain to climb atop.

Most certainly.

***

The Top Stats Of The Day

• England’s John Parry with the first hole-in-one of the Championship, acing the 13th with an 8-iron from 192 yards.

• Lee Westwood equaled the lowest ever back nine in The Open with 29 strokes (six-under-par). The record was set in 2019 at Royal Portrush by Ryan Fox.

• The stroke average for the third round was 69.971 – the first time the field has been under par at Royal Portrush (a combined 72-under-par).

• Four players have the chance on Sunday to complete all four rounds in the 60s – Scottie Scheffler, Haotong Li, Tyrrell Hatton and Nicolai Højgaard. It has only been achieved 12 times previously.

• In his 24 major starts to date, Scheffler has won three times and enjoyed 12 other top-ten finishes.

Related: Will Wales ever get off the waiting list?

Portrush lands 3rd Open — Porthcawl remains sidelined.

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