The Open 2023: Brian Harman remains in control ahead of final day, Jon Rahm hits Hoylake record

Leader Brian Harman has a commanding five-stroke lead at The Open going into the final round on Sunday.

The American finished the day on 12 under, and only two players have had as big a lead as Harman after 54 holes and not managed to win the tournament.

The most recent of those was in 1999 when Jean Van de Velde had his torturous moment in the water, but short of some similar drama, the man from Georgia is likely to emerge as the winner at Hoylake.

However, Harman once held the 54-hole lead at the 2017 US Open and ultimately finished second, which could prey on his thoughts on Sunday.

Trailing Harman, five strokes behind on seven under is fellow American Cameron Young, who performed well to shoot a card of 66, meaning he remains in contention of going one better than his runners-up performance in 2022.

In third spot overnight is Jon Rahm, the current Masters Champion, who broke the Open record at Hoylake with his 63. The Spaniard finished his efforts before Harman began, allowing him to put pressure on his rival.

Harman invited that pressure after dropping two shots in the first four holes, but then made four birdies in order to maintain his handy lead when he finished on 69.

The world No. 26 finished with impressive consistency as he still has not missed a putt from 10 feet or closer, and will play the final round with second-placed Young.

Hopes of Rory McIlroy ending his nine-year major drought appear all but over after he couldn’t maintain a promising start and shot a 69 to leave himself on three under overall, nine strokes off the lead.

• -12: Brian Harman (USA)
• -7: Cameron Young (USA)
• -6: Jon Rahm (Spain)
• -5: Victor Hovland (Norway), Antoine Rozner (France), Jason Day (Australia), Tommy Fleetwood (England), Sepp Straka (Austria)