Scottish Open: Peter Cowen’s Fitzpatrick in pole position for seventh European Tour win with Detry and Rahm lurking
No. 1 coach delighted to see his boys doing well in Rolex Series event ahead of Open
It was another calm day in termas of the weather at The Renaissance, North Berwick, for the third round of the Scottish Open, but one of by boys - Matt Fitzpatrick - whipped up a storm on the course.
I have been at home all day today in Sheffield but always keeping an eye on all my guys in Scotland and have had a couple of calls from caddies post rounds.
With the Open coming up next week, I will leave at 8am and drive down to Sandwich, take a PCR test on arrival at lunchtime and fingers crossed all is negative and I am then locked in the ‘Tournament Bubble’ at Royal St Georges for the week.
I will watch the end of the golf and the Euro 2020 final on Sunday night and then await the arrival of my boys from Scotland and elsewhere. A few of the players have tickets for Wembley, let’s hope they can all make it down to London in time.
Updates on my players after the third round (alphabetical order, tee times are all UAE time):
Adri Arnaus (-4/T57th): Nothing really happened for Adri on Saturday. Hopefully he will finish strongly on Sunday (final round tee time 10.49am).
Matt Fitzpatrick (-14/T1st): Six birdies and a couple of bogeys put the 26-year-old on top of the leaderboard alongside Thomas Detry, and Matt is looking like he still has plenty in the tank. Go for iton Sunday, Matt. This performance has been on the cards for a while following decent form all around the world this year. He will not fall away, in my opinion, with him hitting so many fairways and greens with solid putting. World No.1 Jon Rahm looks the threat just one shot behind in third place (final round tee time 4.16pm)
Branden Grace (-4/T57th): Four birdies mid-round, but a couple of bogeys prevented him moving up the leaderboard (final round tee time 11.26am).
Padraig Harrington (-10/T8th): A steady round came to life from hole 13 - four under for the last six holes including an eagle on 16. Very good play from Ryder Cup captain Harrington (final round tee time 3.16pm).
Victor Perez (-10/T8th): Six birdies in a 66, Victor is getting closer to an automatic Ryder Cup qualification, this week and next week. This can define his season and it is potentially career- and life-changing for the Frenchman (final round tee time 3.26pm).
Thomas Pieters (-6/T37th): Another decent round of five birdies and one bogey. We are still waiting for his real form. We are all excited for Thomas and what he can produce in the next few weeks (final round tee time 1.11pm).
Ian Poulter (-9/T17th): A far too steady round for the DP World Tour Ambassador with 15 pars, a couple of birdies and a solitary bogey (final round tee time 2.11pm).
A couple of other boys with links to Dubai caught my eye:
Adrian Otaegui (-10/T8th): I am watching from afar as the Dubai and UAE resident shot another impressive round of 65 to lie eighth (final round tee time 3.36pm).
Lucas Herbert (-12/4th): Last week’s Dubai Duty Free Irish Open champion and 2020 OMEGA Dubai Desert Classic winner had one of the rounds of the day with 6 birdies and an eagle to lie in 4th position just two shots behind the leaders on -12. When you come off a win, the game can seem too easy, when it is actually not. Lucas has maintained his momentum from last week, the only concern he may run out of energy and adrenaline, winning takes it out of everybody, even the best in the world (final round tee time 4.06pm).
Three Open spots are still available for those not already qualified at the end of play on Sunday, so good luck to those guys too.