Sam Burns in sole lead at Birkdale, Theegala at T-52

Sahith Theegala played his best round of the week, a two-under 68 to rise to T-52 after the third round of 154th Open at Royal Birkdale.

The Indian American golfer, who had missed the last three cuts at the Open, birdied second and the seventh and turned in 2-under before he bogeyed the 10th. Two more birdies on the 14th and the 16th saw him get to 3-under and a Top-25 position before a closing bogey and pushed him down. The other two Indian origin players, Aaron Rai and Akshay Bhatia, had earlier missed the halfway cut.

Meanwhile, Sam Burns moved into pole position to win his first Major Championship after emerging from the chasing pack to take a two-shot lead into the final round. The American entered the third round three shots adrift of 36-hole leader Lucas Herbert but produced an assured 65 to reach ten under at Royal Birkdale.

Ryan Fox earlier surged into contention with the third 62 in two days — a feat achieved by Herbert and Burns on Friday — to get to eight under, where he was joined by Si Woo Kim after a 67 by the South Korean.

American Ryan Gerard, who is competing in his Open debut, is at seven under alongside Herbert of Australia, with Ludvig Aberg, Tommy Fleetwood, Bryson DeChambeau and defending champion Scottie Scheffler among 18 players within six shots of the lead.