Day three of the 151st Open Championship is etched in time. The rains came and the rains went. The course softened a bit, and the course dried out a bit more. Royal Liverpool gave and took on this day, and a remarkable segment of the tournament field positioned itself for a run at history on Sunday, July 23rd. As things currently stand, nine golfers are within eight shots of the leader. A nine-shot comeback is where we draw the line at miracles. Day four at the home of the Fab Four will be, well, fabulous. Before we watch another sunrise, let’s recap day three with Five Things We Learned.

Perfectly judged.

As the rain starts to fall, Shubhankar Sharma makes a move with an eagle. pic.twitter.com/ILDY3yXMkA

— The Open (@TheOpen) July 22, 2023

1. Jon Rahm

Eight birdies. Ten pars. From plus two to minus six in the blink of an eye. Well, if it takes 4.5 hours to blink, I guess. The current Masters champion blistered Hoylake in Game 15 of the third day of competition. A four at the par-five fifth ignited the fire in his belly, and consecutive birdies from nine through twelve added more leña to the fogata. Needing more juice, Rahm closed with another trio of birdies from 15 to 18. Only his 22-feet effort at the penultimate Little Eye stayed above ground. Rahm is the voice of a new generation, and his game will only improve after this week in Liverpool. He’ll play with Viktor Hovland in the penultimate game; could there be a more exciting duo?

History for Jon Rahm.

A Hoylake record 63 on moving day. pic.twitter.com/2BAvxiarFl

— The Open (@TheOpen) July 22, 2023

2. Those Fitzpatricks

Matt and Alex Fitzpatrick will forever be joined in the memory of golfers who watched the elder brother win the 2013 US Amateur at Brookline. The younger was his looper, and at the age of 14 years, summoned memories of Eddie Lowry on the bag of Francis Ouimet. We will add a second memory to that initial one, thanks to the play of both at Hoylake. Matt was exempt, thanks to his 2022 US Open championship victory. Alex qualified in, and came to Royal Liverpool for another rung of learning on the ladder of professional golf.

Things changed for both when each made the cut on Friday afternoon. Their perspectives evolved more when Alex posted 65, and Matt 67, on Saturday. Those performances brought them to T7 and T11, respectively, in advance of Sunday’s final round. Each had a back-nine bogey on the card, and each closed with birdies at 15, 17 and 18.

Alex Fitzpatrick is having some Open debut.

A 65 puts him in a great position for tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/GFwJRaBvyK

— The Open (@TheOpen) July 22, 2023

3. The gainers of experience

A number of the game’s top golfers played very good golf this week, but not remarkable enough to be in contention on Sunday. No matter what they’ve won prior, each ascent along the arc of greatness requires learning. Xander Schauffele has an Olympic gold medal. Scottie Scheffler has a Masters green jacket. Rickie Fowler has multiple tour wins, and Jordan Spieth aches to return to the echelon he occupied during the mid-201os.

Tom Kim is everyone’s buddy, but wins are what he needs. Nicolai Højgaard and his twin brother Rasmus are eager to earn Ryder Cup consideration. Min Woo Lee will have to wait until April to take a run at a major, but there’s no question that he’s capable. In the end, the love they take is equal to the love they make.

"A proper apology" from Xander Schauffele in the form of a signed glove. pic.twitter.com/UEkeKNOXc4

— The Open (@TheOpen) July 22, 2023

4. The final game

Game 38 will feature Brian Harman and Cameron Young. Harman was able to steady himself after two bogeys through Saturday’s first four holes. Birdies at five and nine, followed by another pair at 12 and 13, brought him a third round in the 60s, and preserved his five-shot advantage. His third-round companion, Tommy Fleetwood, played round the course in even par figures, and sits seven shots behind the leader, tied in a quintet of golfers at minus-five. Harman played the sort of golf that places him firmly as the favorite to claim the Champion Golfer of the Year moniker.

Joining him in the final game is last year’s runner-up, Cameron Young. In 2022, Young came from way back to scare the mullet out of eventual champion Cameron Smith. This year, Young will have the pairing he desires, and will have a chance to break through at a major after coming close twice in 2022. If Young puts pressure on early, he stands the greatest chance of spooking Harman and breaking through. Young played an exquisite round on day three, overwhelming a solitary bogey with six birdies.

Brian Harman is holding firm at the top.

This fantastic approach to the 9th helped.

He retains a four shot advantage. pic.twitter.com/yAnFtwKoHp

— The Open (@TheOpen) July 22, 2023

5. The Prediction

Only one gentleman will hoist the Claret Jug on Sunday evening, and we know that you are dying to know his name. The first revelation is that it will end in a playoff. Two golfers will match scores and be compelled to dance in overtime over the 1st, 17th, and 18th holes. The format requires four extra holes, so how the R and A will pull this off, will also conjure intrigue. The second revelation is that both golfers will be tied, headed to the final hole. One will make birdie in overtime, but the other will ensnare an eagle in the most dramatic of fashions: a holed bunker shot.

The runner-up? Jason Day. He’ll have another day, somewhere around 64, to leap over a multitude and score a reservation at the after party. Unfortunately, he won’t be able to add a second major title to his 2015 PGA Championship

The winner? Jon Rahm will claim his second major title of 2023. He will be amazed to see Straka chase him down, but he will prove himself to be the great champion of 2023, with two major titles.

Please remember that this writer is the worst prognosticator since Yesstrodamus, so please do not lay any bets, based on these predictions.

Just three back. @JDayGolf makes his move. pic.twitter.com/N8DXnXVbbH

— The Open (@TheOpen) July 22, 2023